LIVE
Sun, 09 December 2018
Guha deletes beef tweet, says was in poor taste

Timeline  Refresh

image
21:44   Mallya extradition case: CBI joint director leaves for UK
A team of officials led by the Central Bureau of Investigation's Joint Director, S Sai Manohar, left for London Sunday to attend a crucial hearing in the extradition case of embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Monday, sources said.

Manohar will take the place of Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who had been attending the trial till now. The government had sent Asthana on forced leave, divesting him of all powers after he and CBI Director Alok Verma entered in a bitter feud.

Two officials of the Enforcement Directorate are also accompanying the CBI officer, sources said. Manohar is part of the SIT earlier headed by Asthana.

Mallya faces a case of loan default to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore besides allegations of money laundering and diversion of loan funds for purposes other than they were meant for. He is in self-imposed exile in London.      

He left for the United Kingdom in March 2016 taking advantage of the dilution in the CBI lookout notice against him.

Indian agencies are seeking to extradite him. The case will be heard by Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Monday.

Mallya has contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is 'politically motivated' and the loans he has been accused of defrauding on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat.

'I did not borrow a single rupee. The borrower was Kingfisher Airlines. Money was lost due to a genuine and sad business failure. Being held as guarantor is not fraud,' he said in his recent Twitter post on the issue.

'I have offered to repay 100 per cent of the principal amount to them. Please take it,' he had tweeted earlier.

The judge's decision on whether to send Mallya's case to United Kingdom Home Secretary Sajid Javid can be appealed with the UK High Court's permission, with the person to be extradited entitled to make an application for permission to appeal to the high court within 14 days of the date of the Chief Magistrate's ruling.  -- PTI
image
20:58   Guha deletes beef tweet, says was in poor taste
Two days after posting a photo of himself eating beef in Goa, noted historian and author Ramachandra Guha on Sunday deleted the tweet, saying 'it was in poor taste'.

A known critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Guha said the controversial tweet was aimed at 'flaying' the saffron party's 'hypocrisy' on beef, while claiming that he had received threatening calls.

"I have deleted the photo of my lunch in Goa as it was in poor taste," he tweeted. "I do wish, however, to again highlight the absolute hypocrisy of the BJP in the matter of beef," he said, adding that humans must have the right to eat, dress and fall in love as they choose.

In the now deleted tweet, Guha had shared a picture of himself enjoying beef and wrote-- 'After a magical morning in Old Goa we had lunch in Panaji, where-since this is a BJP ruled state-I decided to eat beef in celebration'.

Guha also replied to those who mocked him for eating beef despite being a Gandhian.

"Putting myself in the centre of the frame was exhibitionist and in poor taste. I could have made the same points in words, as I have done now," he said.

Earlier in the day, Guha had tweeted that he and his wife had received phone calls threatening them .

'I have received threatening calls from a man calling himself Sanjay from Delhi. His number is +91-98351-38678. He threatened my wife as well as me. This is for the record,' he said in his first tweet.

Couple of minutes later, he posted another tweet levelling allegations against R K Yadav.

'This threatening tweet below is from a former official of the Research and Analysis Wing. I would like to place it on record, and will do with every subsequent threat received,' Guha said replying to Yadav's post.

Yadav had tweeted, 'If a Hindu eating beef & publicise it he is stigma on this religion. One Ramchandra Guha is doing so. He is trying to tease whole of Hindus by this dastardly action of such publicity. Shd be given befitting reply.'

Despite repeated attempts, Guha could not be reached for his reaction.  -- PTI
image
20:24   A Raja booked for making derogatory remarks against TN CM
A case has been registered against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and former Union minister A Raja for allegedly making derogatory remarks and levelling allegations of corruption against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his cabinet colleagues during a protest in September.

According to local police, the case was registered based on a complaint filed by an All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam functionary on December 7.

Raja has been charged with 'criminal intimidation, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace' under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the officer said.

"Raja took part in the protest held on September 18. The complainant has accused Raja of making derogatory remarks against TN CM and cabinet ministers besides levelling unfounded corruption allegations," the officer said.

On September 18, the opposition DMK staged state-wide protests against the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, with party chief M K Stalin leading the charge in Salem.

Besides Stalin, his son Udhayanidhi, sister Kanimozhi and senior DMK leaders including Durai Murugan and Dayanidhi Maran participated in the protests.

Raja had led the protest at Perambalur, a district in central Tamil Nadu.  -- PTI
image
19:43   Bulandshahr peaceful now: UP DGP
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police O P Singh on Sunday said the situation in Bulandshahr district, where two people died in violence following an alleged cow slaughter incident last week, is peaceful now.

Singh, however, evaded a query by reporters on the role of Army jawan Jitendra Malik who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the killing of police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh during the violence.

The Uttar Pradesh top cop Sunday visited the famous Saibaba shrine here in Ahmednagar district.

"Peaceful atmosphere prevails in Bulandshahr. Law and order is good," he told reporters.

On December 3, a mob of some 400 people rampaged through a village in Bulandshahr district apparently after cow carcasses were found in a jungle nearby.

During the violence, police inspector Singh and a 20-year-old man died of gunshot wounds.

Nine people have been arrested in connection with the violence but the main conspirator, Yogesh Raj, the district convener of Bajrang Dal, is on the run. -- PTI
image
18:19   Mallya's extradition case edges towards ruling
Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crores, is scheduled to return to the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Monday when his extradition trial is listed for a judgment hand-down.

The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss has been on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year.

He has contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is 'politically motivated' and the loans he has been accused of defrauding on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat.

'I did not borrow a single rupee. The borrower was Kingfisher Airlines. Money was lost due to a genuine and sad business failure. Being held as guarantor is not fraud,' he said in his recent Twitter post on the issue.      

'I have offered to repay 100 per cent of the principal amount to them. Please take it,' the flamboyant businessman tweeted earlier.

While dismissing that his intervention has anything to do with the extradition case, it came just days before Judge Emma Arbuthnot is expected to present her ruling in the case.

The trial, which opened at the Magistrates' Court on December 4 last year, has gone through a series of hearings beyond the initial seven days earmarked for it.

It opened with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) team, led by Mark Summers, laying out the Indian government's prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against Mallya.

Summers sought to establish a 'blueprint of dishonesty' against the businessman and that there are no bars to his extradition on human rights grounds.

Mallya's defence team, led by Clare Montgomery, deposed a series of experts in an attempt to prove that the erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines' alleged default of bank loans was the result of business failure rather than 'dishonest' and 'fraudulent' activity by its owner.

The court was also told that a consortium of Indian banks, led by the State Bank of India (SBI), rejected an offer by the liquor baron in early 2016 to pay back nearly 80 per cent of the principal loan amount owed to them.

While the CPS argued that Mallya never intended to repay the loans he sought in the first place because his airline's demise was inevitable, the defence tried to establish that Kingfisher Airlines was suffering from consequences of a wider global financial crisis around 2009-2010 and that its failure was a result of factors beyond the company's control.

"There are clear signs that the banks seem to have gone against their own guidelines [in sanctioning some of the loans]," Judge Arbuthnot had noted during the course of the trial.

In relation to the defence's attempts to dispute Indian prison conditions as a bar to Mallya's extradition on human rights grounds, the judge had indicated to the CPS that she did not require any further information in reference to the prison conditions awaiting Mallya at Barrack 12 of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail after seeking a video of the cell.

"If the judge is satisfied that all of the procedural requirements are met, and that none of the statutory bars to extradition apply, he or she must send the case to the Secretary of State for a decision to be taken on whether to order extradition," explains Pavani Reddy, a United Kingdom-based legal expert and Managing Partner of Zaiwalla & Co.

The judge's decision on whether to send Mallya's case to UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid can be appealed with the UK High Court's permission, with the person to be extradited entitled to make an application for permission to appeal to the high court within 14 days of the date of the Chief Magistrate's ruling.

On the other hand, the Indian government would also have 14 days to file leave to appeal to the High Court, seeking permission to appeal against a decision not to extradite.

"In case the concerned individual does not file an appeal, and Secretary of State agrees with the magistrate's decision, then the individual must be extradited from the UK within 28 days of the Home Secretary's extradition order.

"This will also apply if an appeal lodged by either party in the high court is unsuccessful, but the 28 days will commence from the date when the appeal hearing was concluded," said Reddy.

If the judgment goes ahead as scheduled on Monday, it would mark a significant point in this high-profile extradition trial that has lasted over a year.  -- PTI
image
17:56   Wanted Hizbul terrorist arrested in J&K's Kishtwar
A wanted Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, who was luring youths into militancy, was arrested on Sunday in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said.

Reyaz Ahmad, a resident of Sounder Dachhan village and a close associate of hardcore terrorist Mohammad Amin alias 'Jhangir', was arrested by a police party based on specific information from the town, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Rajinder Gupta told PTI.

He said several pictures of Ahmad holding an AK assault rifle had gone viral on social media in the recent past and his name also surfaced during interrogation of two of his associates who were arrested in the town on July 1.

Following the arrest of his two associates, a case was registered at the Kishtwar police station.

The officer said Ahmad was also involved in another case related to militancy in the Parimpora locality of Srinagar.

"Some more arrests and recoveries are expected at his disclosure," the officer said, adding he was a "hardcore motivator encouraging local youth to join militancy'.

Jehangir is the longest surviving terrorist active in the Kishtwar belt, he said.  -- PTI
image
16:57   BJP files caveat in SC over 'rath yatra' in WB
The West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday said it had filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure that it got a hearing in case the state government moved the apex court against the Calcutta high court verdict on the party's proposed 'rath yatra'.

"We have filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure that we do not go unheard if the Bengal government decides to move the apex court against the order passed by a division bench of the Calcutta high court (on the 'rath yatra')," state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said.

He claimed that the West Bengal government did not want the saffron party to conduct the rath yatra, adding, "We are apprehensive that the government may move the Supreme Court."

A caveat is a notice that states that certain actions may not be taken without informing the person who has given the notice.

The caveat in the apex court was filed by the BJP Saturday.

A division bench of the Calcutta high court came down heavily on the West Bengal government on Friday for not responding to BJP's letters, seeking permission for three rath yatra in the state, and directed top officials to take a decision on the processions by December 14.

Justices Biswanath Somadder and A Mukherjee said the government's silence on the permission was 'astonishing and astounding'.

The BJP wrote to the West Bengal government on Saturday, stating its readiness to join discussions over its proposed rath yatra, as directed by the high court the previous day.

BJP national president Amit Shah was to kickstart the party's 'Save Democracy Rally' comprising three rath yatra -- one from Coochbehar in the northern parts of the state last Friday, one from Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district on Sunday and one from the Tarapith temple in Birbhum district on December 14.

The three rath yatra were scheduled to cover all the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

A single-judge bench of the high court had refused permission to the BJP Thursday for conducting a rath yatra in Coochbehar, after the West Bengal government refused to allow the event saying it may cause communal tension.

The party then moved the division bench of the court against the verdict Friday. The chief secretary, the home secretary and the director general of police shall hold a meeting with three representatives of the BJP by December 12 and take a decision on the matter by December 14, the division bench directed.  -- PTI
image
16:20   Congress threatening probe agencies: BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party Sunday accused the Congress of 'threatening' investigation agencies following raids against people linked to Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and asserted that they will continue to act against those involved in corruption irrespective of their family background.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fighting strongly against corruption and has fulfilled the promises he had made to people in this regard.

He slammed the Congress for the reported remarks made by its leaders at a press conference that political season changes as they attacked the government over these raids.

"The Congress and its leaders are heaping abuses on investigation agencies and threatening them. These agencies are acting against corruption. Congress leaders say season is changing but they should know that the country is changing.

"Action would be taken against those involved in corruption," Hussain said.

He claimed that the Congress will never return to power and added that the BJP will form government again in three states, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, where it is in power.

He alleged that it is a habit of the Congress to indulge in corruption, deny it later and then use 'abuses' if action is taken.

The Modi government, the BJP leader said, has given probe agencies a free hand to take action against people involved in corruption cases irrespective of their party and family affiliations.

To a question about the growing clamour from Hindutva groups for constructing a Ram temple in Ayodhya, he said the BJP believed that there should not be any delay in this.

The public sentiment is that the temple should be built at the earliest and the government respects this feeling, he said.  -- PTI
image
16:00   Rahul hits back at Modi for 'gramophone' jibe with video
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit back at Narendra Modi for comparing him to a stuck gramophone, posting a video of the prime minister in which he is seen and heard making repeated references to members of the Gandhi family in a medley of his speeches.

In a video interaction with Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in October, Modi had mocked Rahul Gandhi, saying he keeps repeating things like a stuck gramophone but people would not accept his 'childish' claims and 'lies' against the government as they make 'fun' of such remarks.

Posting the video of a medley of Modi's speeches with repeated references to the Gandhis, the Congress president tweeted: 'This entertaining video has been presented by Mr. 36! I hope you enjoy seeing it! Please share it with your family and friends so that they can enjoy it too.'

The video starts with Modi's interaction with BJP workers; he says: 'There used to be gramophone records earlier. At times, it would get stuck and play same words again and again. There are some people like it. One thing occupies their mind and they keep repeating it.'

After that, in the video Rahul Gandhi posted, a medley of Modi's addresses follow with only repeated references to members of Gandhi family.

The prime minister is shown referring to Jawaharlal Nehru, India Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi at various places.  -- PTI
image
15:29   People can't submit documents outside NRC list during claims
Documents not mentioned in the two lists of the claim form will not be admissible for filing of claims by people for inclusion of their names in the final National Register of Citizens in Assam, an official statement said on Sunday.

There is also no need to resubmit documents given earlier, the statement issued by the NRC State Coordinator's office in Guwahati said.

A claim can be submitted for reconsideration of eligibility based on documents already submitted, or it can be submitted along with document mentioned in the two lists -- A and B.

After the complete draft of the NRC was published on July 30 leaving out around 40 lakh applicants, the process of claims and objections is currently on and its last date is December 15, 2018.

Assam, which faced an influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century, is the only state having an NRC, first prepared in 1951.

It is now being updated under the monitoring of the Supreme Court. About admission documents, the statement said, the List A refers to the legacy documents and no change has been made in it.

In case of List B, any legally admissible document issued upto March 31, 2015 and which is part of official records can be submitted.

Any person who has already submitted a claim or objection form and now intends to submit additional supporting documents can do the same at the designated NRC Seva Kendra, the statement said.

Claims can be also submitted by a person who claims to have been wrongly identified as D voter (DV) or Declared Foreigner(DF) or a person with case pending in Foreigners Tribunal (FT) or their descendants.

A person can also submit a claim if he has an order from judicial authority or Foreigners Tribunal declaring him or her as Indian but has not been included in the draft NRC, the statement said.

Any person can make an objection regarding inclusion of any name in the draft NRC and there is no penalty for rejection of any objection, the release added.

The last date for filing of claims and objections is December 15, 2018.

The complete draft of the NRC was published on July 30 and included the names of 2.9 crore people out of the total applications of 3.29 crore.

There has been a huge controversy over exclusion of 40 lakh people from the draft NRC.  -- PTI
image
15:02   India, China to resume military drills after one year gap
India and China will resume their joint military drills after a one-year gap on Tuesday in the southwest Chinese city of Chengdu to improve capabilities in fighting terrorism and promote mutual understanding, officials said on Sunday.

The opening ceremony of the drills will be held on December 11, they said.

Each side will send 100 troops to take part in the 7th India and China joint military exercises - 'Hand in Hand' - which will focus on counter-terrorism operations, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Col Ren Guoqiang said last month.

The exercises will be held after a gap of one year as both the sides were locked in a 73-day standoff in Doklam in the Sikkim sector of the border in 2017.

The strained relations between the two sides later improved resulting in an informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Chinese city of Wuhan in April this year.      

"The drill will promote understanding between the two militaries and improving their capabilities in fighting terrorism," Col Ren said.

The exercises, which will conclude on December 23, will include live shooting and adoptive and basic training, he said, adding that true to its name 'Hand in Hand', China and Indian militaries should also work hand in hand for the benefit of people in both the nation.

Top leaders from both the countries met on November 24 at the 21st India-China border talks held at Dujiangyan near Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China's State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who are the designated Special Representatives, took part in the talks.

They called for intensifying efforts to find a solution to the vexed border dispute.

Earlier at the 9th Defence dialogue held here on November 13 between Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and Lt Gen Shao Yuanming, Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Department of Central Military Commission, the two sides discussed bilateral relations, military ties, border control as well as regional and international issues.  -- PTI
image
14:16   EC orders repolling at Rajasthan booth over EVM issues
The Election Commission has ordered repolling at a booth in Karanpur Assembly constituency of Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar district on Monday.

The decision was taken after it came to notice that electronic voting machines (EVMs) were not cleared of mock poll when the actual polling began, election department sources said.

Chief Electoral Officer Anand Kumar said repolling would take place at polling centre number 163 from 8am-5pm.

Kumar said there was a decline in the cases of repolling in the state this time.

In 2013, repolling was conducted at eight polling centres spread across six constituencies.

Voting in 199 out of 200 constituencies was held last Friday and the counting will take place on Tuesday.

Ramgarh constituency in Alwar district will go to poll later due to the death of BSP candidate Laxman Singh.  --  PTI
image
14:11   DMK chief Stalin meets Sonia, Rahul
A day before a crucial opposition meeting in Delhi, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M K Stalin met Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Sunday and discussed a range of issues.

Stalin and other senior DMK members met Sonia Gandhi and wished her on her birthday.

'Shri Stalin and senior members of the DMK, visited Sonia Ji in Delhi today, to wish her on her birthday. We had a warm & cordial meeting & discussed a range of issues,' Rahul Gandhi tweeted after the meeting.

'I look forward to continuing our dialogue & to strengthening our alliance, that has stood the test of time,' he said.

A meeting of opposition parties to discuss a grand alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party for 2019 Lok Sabha election is scheduled tomorrow in the national capital.   -- PTI
image
13:19   Thousands gather in Delhi at VHP rally for Ram Temple
Thousands of people gathered at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday for Vishwa Hindu Parishad's rally to press for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, days before Parliament's winter session commences.

The VHP has said the rally, to be addressed by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's executive head Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi, will be an attempt to give a clarion call to the Union government to enact a legislation, if need be, for the construction of the temple.

Besides Joshi, VHP president Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje and its international working president Alok Kumar are also expected to address the rally.

The traffic police has issued an advisory detailing diversions in view of the rally.

It said no traffic will be allowed on Ranjeet Singh Flyover (from Guru Nanak Chowk to Barakhambha Road), JLN Marg (from Rajghat to Delhi Gate), Chaman Lal Marg near VIP gate.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made at Ramlila Maidan and snipers have been deployed on high-rises.

The VHP has carried out a door-to-door campaign to make the rally a success.

"It will be a massive gathering which will change the hearts of all those who are not in favour of bringing the bill for construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya," VHP's spokesperson Vinod Bansal said.

The right-wing group had approached President Ram Nath Kovind and state governors during previous phases of its temple campaign.

In the forthcoming stage, it will hold religious rituals and prayers at temples and matths. The campaign will culminate at Prayag with a 'Dharam Sansad' of priests and saints.

The final 'Dharam Sansad' will be held on January 31 and February 1.

The winter session is set to begin on Tuesday.  -- PTI
image
12:25   3 terrorists killed, 5 soldiers injured in Mujgund encounter
UPDATE: Three terrorists have been neutralised in Mujgund encounter in Srinagar which broke out yesterday.

Five security personnel have been injured.

Weapons and other warlike stores have been recovered.

The encounter was underway in the area since Saturday evening.

Mobile internet services have also been suspended in Srinagar.

The encounter started after the terrorists fired upon security forces on Saturday when they were conducting searches, on getting intelligence inputs that some terrorists have been hiding in the area.  -- ANI
image
12:10   Athawale blames police for slap attempt on him
Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Sunday blamed police for an incident in which a man tried to slap him at a public event in Maharashtra's Thane district claiming it had failed to provide him adequate security.

The Republican Party of India (Athawale) chief was in Ambernath town to address a rally late Saturday when Pravin Gosavi, 30, tried to slap him.

In a statement issued Sunday morning, Athawale said, "Police did not provide sufficient protection, that helped the assailant to target me. My popularity is growing and it may have resulted in a jealous person charging against me. I am going to meet chief minister of Maharashtra regarding the same."

Athawale had just got off the dais after delivering a speech on the Constitution when the incident happened at around 10.15 pm on Saturday.

The minister of state for social justice and empowerment was not harmed as the bystanders and police managed to foil Gosavi's attempt to assault him, an officer said.

Athawale on Sunday morning asked his party workers to maintain peace in the wake of the incident.

The local RPI-A unit has called for a shutdown in Ambernath on Sunday as a mark of protest.

An officer said the situation in the town was calm and under control, with a large posse of police personnel out on the streets to keep vigil.

No untoward incident has been reported since morning, the officer added.  -- PTI
image
11:29   Ex-CEA Arvind Subramanian seeks review of back series GDP data
Amid raging controversy over the revised economic growth numbers, former chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian has called for an investigation by experts to clear doubts and build confidence while noting that the 'puzzle' about the data needs to be explained.

He stressed that institutions that do not have technical expertise in calculating the gross domestic product data should not be involved in the process, apparently referring to the Niti Aayog.

Subramanian, who criticised demonetisation in his new book titled Of Counsel: The Challenges of the Modi-Jaitley Economy, was, however, evasive when asked if he was consulted in the decision-making process on note ban.

"As an economist, I think there are some puzzles (new back series GDP data) there are some issues that need to be explained. Since there are things that need to be explained, we should, just to create confidence and eliminate any uncertainty or doubts, I think we should have experts who can investigate this thoroughly and give their answers," Subramanian told PTI in an interview.

On the controversy over the Niti Aayog's presence at the release of the GDP back series data by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) last month, he said that experts should have the main job of producing and explaining data.

"I think this (calculation of GDP) is a very technical task and technical experts should do the task, institutions that don't have technical expertise should not be involved in this," he said.

Recalibrating data of past years using 2011-12 as the base year instead of 2004-05, the CSO last month lowered the country's economic growth rate during the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's regime.

Asked whether he was consulted in the decision-making process on demonetisation, the former CEA said, "In the book, I said that this is not a Kiss and Tell memoir, that is for gossip columnists."

Referring to criticism that he did not speak on demonetisation when he was working for the government and now he is raising the issue to sell his book, Subramanian said, "People will say whatever they say, right."

"But through my new book, I was drawing attention to the puzzle, the big puzzle, 86 per cent reduction in cash (after demonetisation) and yet the impact on the economy was much less," he said.

The former CEA also wondered whether much less impact on the economy after demonetisation was due to current GDP calculation method.

"Is it (less impact on the economy after note ban) because we are not measuring GDP correctly, or is it because our economy is very resilient," Subramanian who currently teaches at Harvard Kennedy School remarked.

'In the six quarters before demonetisation, growth averaged 8 per cent and in the seven quarters after, it averaged about 6.8 per cent (with a four-quarter window, the relevant numbers are 8.1 per cent before and 6.2 per cent after),' Subramanian wrote in the chapter The Two Puzzles of Demonetisation -- Political and Economic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, 2016, had announced demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes in a major assault on black money, fake currency and corruption.

On the recent spat between the government and Reserve Bank of India over a host of issues, Subramanian opined that the autonomy of RBI must be protected because the country will benefit by having strong institutions.

"But, I think there must also be cooperation, consultation and everything. Both have to happen," he asserted.

On rising intolerance in the country, Subramanian said the experience in the world shows that the countries witness better economic development if there is more social peace. Subramanian was the CEA in finance ministry from October 2014 to June 2018.  -- PTI
image
10:55   FPIs pull out nearly Rs 400-cr in just 5 sessions on global cues
Foreign investors have pulled put close to Rs 400 crore from the Indian stock market in the last five trading sessions amid weakness in global equities due to the arrest of a high-profile Chinese executive.
 
This comes following a net inflow of over Rs 6,900 crore in the equity market by Foreign Portfolio Investors on easing crude oil prices and a strengthening rupee.
According to depositories, FPIs withdrew a net amount of Rs 383 crore from equities from December 3-7.
However, they put in Rs 2,744 crore in the debt markets during the period under review.
After making a spirited comeback in November, FPIs have once again turned net sellers in the Indian equity markets in the month of December.
"In fact, the sell-off was triggered on Thursday December 6, when FPIs sold net assets worth Rs 361 crore in a single day. This could be largely attributed to the weakness in the global markets due to the arrest of a high-profile Chinese executive which led to a sharp fall in the stock markets globally," said Himanshu Srivastava, Senior Analyst Manager Research, Morningstar Investment Adviser India.
"Investors fear that the relationship between the world's two biggest economies -- US and China -- could deteriorate following the arrest and hurt economic growth. Consequently, they chose to adopt a cautious stance and shun risky assets, such as their investments in emerging markets like India, which are more susceptible to weak global cues," he added.
The sell-off by FPIs was triggered after Chinese telecom giant Huawei's CFO Meng Wanzhou, who is also the company founder's daughter, was arrested in Canada for extradition to the US for suspected Iran sanctions violations.
FPIs have pulled out over Rs 85,600 crore from the capital markets so far this year. This includes more than Rs 35,600 crore from equities and Rs 50,000 crore from the debt market. -- PTI 
image
10:45   Won't hesitate to launch another surgical strike if need arises: Army
Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Devraj Anbu has said the security forces would not hesitate to launch another surgical strike against terrorists if the need to do so arises.
 
"The surgical strike on militant launchpads across the border was a show of strength by our armed forces and we won't hesitate to do it again if the enemy challenges us," Lt Gen Anbu said in reply to a question by reporters on the sidelines of the Indian Military Academy's Passing Out Parade in Dehradun on Saturday.
India conducted the surgical strike on September 29, 2016 across the Line of Control as a response to a terrorist attack on an Indian Army base in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir earlier that month. Nineteen Indian soldiers died in the attack by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
On Friday, Lt Gen (retd) D S Hooda, who was the Northern Army commander when the surgical strikes were carried out, said the constant hype around the precision operation was unwarranted. He, however, said it was natural to have initial euphoria over the success of the military action.
Responding to a question from the audience during a panel discussion in Chandigarh, Lt Gen Hooda said in hindsight, it would have been better had "we done it (surgical strikes) secretly".
On the plans to give women combat roles in the armed forces, Lt Gen Anbu said different aspects of the proposition are being examined as conditions along the borders with Pakistan and China are different from the rest of the country.
In July this year, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said the process to allow women in combat role, currently an exclusive domain of men, is moving fast and initially women will be recruited for positions in military police.
In November, he said the Indian Army is not yet ready to have women in combat roles. He said there are several other fields where the Army was thinking of inducting women and there were plans to have women as interpreters.
Lt Gen Anbu was in Dehradun to address the POP at IMA as the reviewing officer.
The POP saw a total of 427 gentlemen cadets including 80 from seven friendly foreign countries graduating from the academy. -- PTI  
image
10:40   Trump nominates Gen Mark Milley as next Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
United States President Donald Trump on Saturday nominated General Mark Milley as his next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's top military advisor.
If confirmed by the Senate, Gen Milley would replace General Joe Dunford who is scheduled to retire next summer. Milley currently is Chief of Staff of the Army.
       
"I am pleased to announce my nomination of four-star General Mark Milley, Chief of Staff of the United States Army as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, replacing General Joe Dunford, who will be retiring," Trump said in a tweet.
 
Milley has served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
"I am thankful to both of these incredible men for their service to our country! Date of transition to be determined," Trump said ahead of the Army-Navy football game later in the day, which he is scheduled to attend. PTI 
image
09:59   J-K: Encounter between security forces and terrorists continues for 2nd day
An encounter between terrorists and the security forces on the outskirts of Srinagar entered into the second day on Sunday, police said.
 
A cordon-and-search operation was launched near the Srinagar-Bandipora road in Mujgund area on Saturday evening. 

The encounter ensued after a forces' party was fired upon by some terrorists, a police officer said.
 
The gunfight resumed this morning and the operation to flush out the terrorists is on, the officer said.
 
He said while the firing was stopped for the night, the forces had cordoned of the area to stop the militants from escaping. 

Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in the city as a precautionary measure, the official added. -- PTI  
image
09:46   Union minister Ramdas Athawale slapped at public event in Maharashtra
Union minister Ramdas Athawale has been slapped by a man at a public event in Maharashtra's Ambernath town, police said.
 
The incident took place Saturday night as the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment was coming down from the stage, a police official said.
The accused has been identified as Pravin Gosavi. He was later beaten up by Athwale's supporters.
Gosavi has been shifted to the state-run J J hospital in Mumbai after receiving initial treatment in Ambernath, police said.
The motive behind the attack was not known and police are investigating the matter. -- PTI 
image
09:22   Armyman named in Bulandshahr cop's killing held in J&K
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday arrested armyman Jitendra Malik, one of the suspects in the killing of police inspector Subodh Kumar during Bulandshahr mob violence.

"We've arrested army jawan Jitendra Malik. He was handed over by the army at 12:50 am today (Saturday). Preliminary interrogation has been done. He is being sent to Bulandshahr and will be produced before court for judicial custody," said senior superintendent of police Abhishek Singh of Special Task Force in Meerut.

Jitendra alias Jeetu Fauji was detained by the 22 Rashtriya Rifles in Sopore town in Jammu and Kashmir and was handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Police for further investigation on Saturday.

"He accepted he was there when crowd started gathering. Prima facie, it has been found true. It's not yet ascertained if he is the one who shot Inspector or Sumit. He said he went there with villagers, but denied pelting stones on police. Forensic of his mobile will be done," Singh added.

Earlier on Saturday, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that the army will extend full cooperation to the Uttar Pradesh Police in the investigation of the incident.

On December 3, clashes erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr after cattle carcasses were found in a field, which led to agitation by locals demanding the closure of all illegal animal slaughterhouses. In the protests that ensued, policeman Kumar and a civilian Sumit were killed.  -- ANI
image
09:12   Chief of Staff John Kelly to step down by year-end: Trump
United States President Donald Trump on Saturday said his Chief of Staff John Kelly would be leaving the White House by the end of this year, the latest in the series of reshuffle in the Trump administration. 
 
A retired marine general, 68-year-old Kelly has been Trump's Chief of Staff since July 31, 2017. In the first seven months of the Trump administration, he was the secretary of Homeland Security.
There were reports that the relationship between Trump and Kelly has deteriorated to such an extent that the two were no longer on speaking terms. 
"John Kelly will be leaving I don't know if I can say 'retiring'. But, he's a great guy. John Kelly will be leaving at the end of the year," Trump told reporters at the White House.
Kelly, who was brought in by Trump after he fired Reince Priebus, has been instrumental in bringing in a sense of discipline inside the White House.  
No replacement of Kelly has been named yet. 
"We will be announcing who will be taking John's placeI shall be announcing that over the next day or two. But, John will be leaving at the end of the year. He has been with me almost two years now," Trump said.
Earlier in the day, Trump nominated General Mark Milley as his next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's top military advisor.
If confirmed by the Senate, Gen Milley would replace General Joe Dunford who is scheduled to retire next summer. Milley currently is Chief of Staff of the Army.
Trump described Gen Milley as a "great gentleman and a great patriot". -- PTI
image
09:11   Film producer Prerna Arora held for cheating Vashu Bhagnani
The Economics Offences Wing of Mumbai police arrested Bollywood producer Prerna Arora for allegedly cheating film-maker Vashu Bhagnani of a sum of Rs 32 crore, a senior official said Saturday.
According to the official, Arora had taken money from Bhagnani's firm Pooja Entertainment for exclusive rights of a film.
The official said that Arora had, similarly, taken money from multiple investors promising each of them exclusive rights to the same film.
None of these investors was told about the other leading to breach in contract, the Mumbai police official said.
Arora was arrested Friday and has been remanded in EOW custody till December 10, he said.
Bhagnani had earlier claimed he was given parallel rights for films Fanney Khan and Batti Gul Meter Chalu by Arora's company KriArj Entertainment.
Bhagnani could not be reached for comments on Saturday.
Arora was also embroiled in a court battle with actor-producer John Abraham for the film Parmanu, and other films like Kedarnath, Batti Gul Meter Chalu and Fanney Khan. PTI 
image
08:57   India is not a 'dharamshala' for illegal immigrants: Amit Shah on NRC
BJP chief Amit Shah said on Saturday that Indians have the right to the country's resources, and it is not a 'dharamshala' where illegal immigrants can come to settle down.
 
Describing illegal immigration as threat to the country, Shah said that the National Register of Citizens is a way to solve the basic problems of the country and should not be connected to the BJP. 
"The NRC should not be seen by connecting it with the BJP only. It is a way to solve the country's basic problems. How is it possible that anyone can come and settle down here? The country cannot run like this. Those who are its citizens should stay here only and they only have the right to the resources of this country. 
"This country is not a dharamshala (charitable shelter home) that anyone can come and settle down here," Shah said while speaking at the Jagran Forum organised by the Dainik Jagran media group.
Taking on opposition over the issue, the BJP chief alleged that the intruders have been used as a vote bank for 70 years and they are a threat to the country, whereas BJP believes in taking tough decisions which are in the interest of the country.
"They (intruders) should be identified. Delete their names from the electoral roll. The BJP clearly believes that they should be identified and deported. Intruders are also threaten the security of the country," he said while replying to a question on the NRC.
Assam, which faced an influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century, is the only state having a National Register of Citizens (NRC), first prepared in 1951. It is being updated under the monitoring of the Supreme Court.
The complete draft of the NRC was published on July 30 and included the names of 2.9 crore people out of the total applications of 3.29 crore. Those omitted have been given an opportunity to submit documents afresh to prove their residency.
Meanwhile, at the same event, Shah said the BJP will do well in all five states where polling has concluded and will win Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. -- PTI 
image
08:46   Mexico's Vanessa Ponce de Leon crowned Miss World 2018
Mexico's Vanessa Ponce de Leon on Saturday won the coveted Miss World 2018 crown at a grand event held in the Chinese city Sanya. 
 
India's Anukreethy Vas failed to make a mark at the pageant as she could not even make it to the top 30.
Thailand's Nicolene Pichapa Limsnukan was declared the 1st runner-up. 
The top five also included Belarus' Maria Vasilevich, Jamaica's Kadijah Robinson and Uganda's Quiin Abenakyo.
Former Miss World Manushi Chillar presented the crown to the new winner during the pageant in which 118 contestants participated.
"I can't believe it. This is for everyone in Mexico and the people who supported me. They deserve a great representative and I hope I make them proud. I will do as much as I can in the time I have got. Thank you so much, everyone," 26-year-old Vanessa said after winning the crown.
Vas, a 19-year-old student from Tamil Nadu, was crowned Miss India 2018 in June this year. -- PTI

Image: India's Manushi Chillar, former Miss World pageant, crowns Mexico's Vanessa Ponce de Leon as Miss World 2018. Photograph: Miss World/Instagram 
image
08:38   Dilution of civil liberties will lead to disorder anarchy, says ex-CJI Misra
Former chief justice of India Dipak Misra on Saturday said liberty is a "permanent value" which cannot be "bartered" and any dilution of civil liberties will lead to disorder and anarchy.
    
"Life without liberty is meaningless... life and liberty must welcome dissent, discord, disagreement. Without them life is a rose without fragrance," Misra, who had presided over benches which delivered key verdicts related to fundamental rights like liberty, sexual autonomy and dignity, said at the Jagran Forum organised in New Delhi on the 75th anniversary of the Dainik Jagran.
Quoting former US president Thomas Jefferson, Misra said, "When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, it  is tyranny".
   
The former CJI referred to recent judgments by Constitution benches of the apex court on issues like decriminalising consensual gay sex and allowing women of all age groups into Kerala's Sabarimala temple. He stressed that the right to choose was a key part of liberty. 
"When the court struck it (provision criminalising homosexuality) down, various opinions were drafted but the basic was that you must have choice, dignity and autonomy," he said.
Civil liberties are the cornerstone of the nation and their "dilution" will "lead to disorder anarchy", he said, stressing that protection of civil rights should be the sole guiding force.
 
The CJI also said that if anybody plays with the Constitution, "then he should know that he is compromising with the rights of his future generations"
  
Speaking during the panel discussion, former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi was of the view that the apex court decision on consensual gay sex came as "society was ready" for it.  However, former Supreme Court judge Gyan Sudha Misra said gays, lesbians and transgenders suffer from "psychological disability" and "should be given counselling".
   
Rohatgi hailed the apex court verdict which decriminalised consensual gay sex between two adults, but differed with the majority verdict which allowed all women to enter the Sabarimala temple. 
  
"The judgement came because of the change in the society. The society has slowly started accepting it in the past few years in India. The society was ready for it. It is not so that the Supreme Court judgement came and then the society is accepting it. The society was ready for it and hence the judgement came," said Rohatgi.
He, however, did not agree with top court's decision in the Sabarimala case, saying it was not for five judges to sit and decide whether a practice that has been continuing for hundreds of years was correct or not. 
 
"The religious practices at Sabarimala are continuing since hundreds of years. The question is not whether the practises are right or wrong. Five judges cannot sit and decide that what have been going on for hundreds of years is right or wrong. The Supreme Court's decision is wrong.
 
"I agree with the dissenting judge in the verdict who said that religious practices cannot be tested on reason and logic. The Supreme Court's decision on Sabarimala was based on reason and logic," said Rohatgi. -- PTI
image
08:10   Entire world knows Pak link to 26/11: Gen Rawat
Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat on Saturday said the international community knew about the role of Pakistani terrorists in the Mumbai terror attack and that India did not want anyone's acknowledgement about it.
 
The army chief's comments came when asked about reported remarks of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan that the 2008 Mumbai attack was "an act of terrorism" and that resolving the case was in Pakistan's interest.
Khan's comments during a media interview was seen as an indirect acknowledgement of involvement of Pakistani terrorists in the attack. 
"International community knows who did it...but even without it, we knew who did it," Gen. Rawat said on the sidelines of an event when asked about Khan's reported comments.
The army chief, however, said acceptance by Pakistan about the 26/11 terror attack was good. 
He further said, "We know who did it. I don't think we have to get anymore statement from anybody."
Asked about comments by former Northern Army Commander Lt General (retd) D S Hooda that the "hype" around the 2016 surgical strikes on terror launchpads along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir was unwarranted and that it is not good when military operations get politicised, Gen Rawat said the remarks were an individual's opinion.
At the same time, Gen Rawat said, he respected Lt Gen (retd) Hooda's words.
As Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen (retd) Hooda was involved in planning and execution of the surgical strikes. -- PTI  

TOP STORIES