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Tue, 24 September 2019
Blacklisted me for jokes: Minhaj on Howdy Modi
Timeline Refresh
23:44 Dadasaheb Phalke award a befitting tribute to Bachchan: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the Dadasaheb Phalke award to Amitabh Bachchan is a "befitting tribute to the Bollywood legend.
Shah also said Bachchan's contribution to Indian cinema cannot be put in words.
"The prestigious #DadaSahebPhalkeAward is a befitting tribute to this legend. May you continue to serve the Indian Film industry with your versatile acting. Many congratulations @SrBachchan," Shah tweeted.
Bachchan, one of the most influential stars of his generation, was on Tuesday named the Dadasaheb Phalke award recipient for the year 2018 for his contribution to the Indian film industry.
-- PTI
23:28 Blacklisted me for jokes: Minhaj on Howdy Modi
Popular Indian-origin comic Hasan Minhaj on Wednesday confirmed he was barred from attending the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston, saying the organisers had "honoured" him while "blackballing" him.
The comedian claimed he was denied entry into the venue as some of the comments he made about Modi on his show The Patriot Act were not appreciated.
He faced a lot of heat on social media for his episodes on Indian elections, the results of which saw Modi return for a second term with a thumping majority, and the recent clampdown in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 ahead of Indian Independence Day by the ruling government.
On Monday, a video doing the rounds on social media surfaced, in which the Patriot Act host was seen talking to a media coordinator from the press registration desk outside the venue on phone.
Minhaj was told he and his team couldn't be permitted inside the stadium citing lack of space for broadcast crews".
Confirming he was turned away from the event, the comic, in an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers narrated how intense things got.
He also shared the video snippet from the show on social media with a caption reading: Never got a chance to say Howdy Modi.
"I was like I have to be there. So we submit our press credentials immediately get an email back through saying 'We're out of space'. I was like 'word'. Like I've been to Indian weddings, you just walk in. You're out of space in a football stadium? Nah.
"So I recheck with the organisers, 'hey guys it's my community, you get it?' I want to be there. And they're like 'We're out of space but we'll discuss it'. I'm like 'okay'. And I'm like I'm sorry for making fun of cricket. It's not a sport for farms, it's an international game that's taking over the world. They are like No, some of the comments you made about Prime Minister Modi were not appreciated and you've been blacklisted', Minhaj told Meyers.
The comic said he watched the event on his phone in the parking lot of NRG Stadium and saw many Indian-Americans from different walks of life, including fellow comedians like Mindy Kaling and Aziz Ansari, being honoured for their contribution to the arts.
It was ironic to see his own photograph pop up on the screen at the event as one of the achievers of the community, he said.
"They were honouring me for my comedy while also blackmailing and blackballing me and kicking me out for my comedy. It is the most Indian thing ever. They were like 'we're proud of you but we'll never say it to your face, Minhaj said as the audience roared with laughter.
The stand-up comic also threw in a cheeky Kashmir joke.
He said police officers on rally duty while breaking up people from beating each other said, "'Why are you guys arguing over sweaters? Everyone can have cashmere'. They were like 'That's the problem, everyone can't have Kashmir'."
-- PTI
22:54 Owaisi warns Modi against friendship with Trump
Criticising the 'Howdy, Modi!' event, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi against friendship with United States President Donald Trump and termed the US president a "clever and deceitful man".
"At Howdy Mody event, Modi and Trump were holding hands like lovers. Modi ji, I want to suggest that you should balance your friendship with Trump because if he loses elections then God knows what will happen as he is clever, deceitful man and not worthy of friendship," Owaisi said addressing a public gathering. "As soon as Trump met Pakistan Chief Minister Imran Khan, he praised him and Pakistan," he added.
Owaisi also targetted Modi over his international visits and for investing money in foreign companies.
"Prime Minister Modi will visit the whole world by 2024 and then he would prepare himself to go to the moon. Modi talks about Make in India but his government has invested in the US-based company that funds Trump. If Modi said in America 'abki baar Trump sarkar' then it will be exactly the same as Turk's princess propagating our party here," he said.
On Monday, Trump held a press conference with Imran Khan following a bilateral between the two leaders.
In the press conference, the US president said that he shares a good relationship with both Khan and Modi and can act as a good 'arbitrator'.
-- ANI
22:33 PM Modi is like Elvis Presley: Trump
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
"I am thankful to Trump that he came to Houston. He is my friend but he is also a good friend of India," Modi said.
Both countries could sign a limited trade deal.
Here are highlights from the meet:
>> President Trump is not a good friend of mine, he is also a great friend of India: PM Modi
>> People went crazy, PM Modi was like Elvis (Presley): Donald Trump on 'Howdy, Modi!' event
>> PM Modi is like the father of India: Trump
>> PM Modi has the message loud and clear. I am sure he will be able to handle the situation (on terrorism from Pakistan): Trump
>> We will have a trade deal very soon
21:58 PM Modi, US President Trump meet in New York
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump hold a meeting at the UN Headquarters.
PM Modi says, "I am thankful to Trump that he came to Houston. He is my friend but he is also a good friend of India."
Ahead of a bilateral meeting with Modi on Tuesday, Trump has once again offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to resolve the long-standing issue of Jammu and Kashmir. "I think as far as Pakistan is concerned, India, their talking, I'm certainly willing to help. I think they would in a certain way like my help. But they have to both want it. They have very different views and I'm concerned about it," Trump said.
The US president's remarks came after his arrival at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The ties between India and Pakistan were further strained after the Centre last month revoked Kashmir's special status accorded to it by Article 370 of the Constitution. While India has maintained that the issue is internal, Pakistan has been approaching various world bodies.
21:51
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York City.
21:48
Sources in the Government have informed that the rumours circulating in the social media about DoPT having given clearance to a proposal for reducing the age of superannuation of Central Government employees w.e.f. 01.04.2020 are unfounded and baseless. It has been clarified that there is no such proposal.
21:42 Boris Johnson to cut short US trip after court rules his parliament suspension 'unlawful'
After the Supreme Court of UK ruled that Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament until October 14 was 'unlawful', the prime minister will be flying back to his country after speaking at the United Nations General Assembly.
CNN quoted a government source as saying that the British PM will fly back to the UK on Tuesday night after his speech at UNGA. The UK Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament until October 14 was "unlawful."
-- ANI
21:20 Sharad, Ajit Pawar booked in Maha coop bank case
The Enforcement Directorate has booked NCP chief Sharad Pawar, his nephew and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and others in a criminal case of money laundering linked to the alleged Rs 25000-crore scam in Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, officials said on Tuesday.
They said an Enforcement Case Information Report, equivalent of a police FIR, has been registered by the central agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against all the accused.
The case is based on a Mumbai Police FIR that had named the then directors of the bank, former deputy chief minister of the state Ajit Pawar and 70 former functionaries of the cooperative bank.
Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party and a former CM of Maharashtra, has been named in the ED FIR on the basis of the police FIR, they said.
The registration of the case comes ahead of the October 21 assembly polls in Maharashtra.
It is understood that the accused will soon be summoned by the agency to record their statements.
Diliprao Deshmukh, Isharlal Jain, Jayant Patil, Shivaji Rao, Anand Rao Adsul, Rajendra Shingane and Madan Patil are among the accused in the ED case.
The ED slapped criminal charges of money laundering on the basis of the Mumbai Police FIR that was filed in August this year, which itself was filed on the basis of a similar complaint by the state economic offences wing.
-- PTI
21:02 Salman receives death threat on social media
Salman Khan has received a death threat on social media. The threat was issued on a Facebook page named after the Punjab University student union.
The threat post carried a photo of Salman Khan with a red cross and the message: "Salman you may think that you are above the Indian law, but the Bishnoi community and Sopu party has given you a death sentence. You are guilty in Sopu court."
Sopu stands for Student organisation of Punjab University. The threatening message was posted by a Gary Shooter.
Salman Khan is scheduled to be present in Jodhpur Court on September 27 in connection with the Blackbuck poaching case. The court had mentioned that Salman Khan's bail will be canceled if he is not present in the court on that day.
20:26 BJP govt in UP has no control over crime: Priyanka
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday attacked the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, saying there had been a rise in criminal incidents and the Yogi Adityanath dispensation was unable to rein in crime.
She also slammed the state government over crimes against women, alleging that incidents of rape are also on the rise.
The Congress general secretary also posted a media report on Twitter which claimed that in the last 22 days there have been 12 shooting incidents and four killings in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow.
"You try to match the claims and reality of the Uttar Pradesh BJP government. Every day the BJP government is going around beating drums about making the state crime-free, whereas the truth is 12 shootings, 4 killings in 22 days. Atrocities on women," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
The state government has no control over crime, she said.
In another tweet in Hindi, she alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government is unable to prevent crimes against women, girls and students.
"Everyday heinous crimes like rape are increasing and on top of that the police misbehaves with the person filing the case. Condemnable," she said and tagged a media report on alleged rape of a Dalit girl in Kaushambi.
-- PTI
20:02 Trump again pitches to help between India & Pak
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday once again made a pitch to help resolve differences between India and Pakistan, in the fourth offer at mediation which India has strongly opposed so far.
"I think as far as Pakistan is concerned, India, they're talking, I'm certainly willing to help. I think they would in a certain way like my help. But they've to both want it. They have very different views and I'm concerned about it," he told reporters ahead of his address to the UN General Assembly.
The statement comes less than 24 hours after Trump, with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan by his side, renewed his offer of arbitration on Kashmir.
India responded curtly to the offer, saying its position - that there can be no third-party mediation - is known.
The Foreign Ministry urged the media to wait for Tuesday, when President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to meet for talks.
Addressing a joint briefing before his talks with Imran Khan, President Trump said if India and Pakistan wanted him to mediate on Kashmir, he was "ready, willing and able".
"If I can help, I will certainly help... If both (India and Pakistan) want, I am ready to do it... I have very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi. I have very good relationship with Prime Minister Khan... I would be an extremely good arbitrator. I have never failed as an arbitrator," said the US president, despite India rebuffing the suggestion twice before.
19:25 Amitabh Bachchan bags Dadasaheb Phalke award
Actor Amitabh Bachchan has been selected for the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke awards, the government has announced.
Making the announcement, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar said, "The legend Amitabh Bachchan who entertained and inspired for 2 generations has been selected unanimously for #DadaSahabPhalke award. The entire country and international community is happy. My heartiest Congratulations to him."
19:17 Art 370 encouraged terrorism: Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has described as "constitutionally proper" the revocation of Article 370 to withdraw the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and said the previous provision was "exploited" by Pakistan to conduct cross-border terrorism.
Writing in the UK's 'Financial Times' newspaper on Tuesday, the minister sought to counter criticism over Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's announcement over the "anachronistic provision" last month, which he said had resulted in socio-economic injustice due to the inability to apply national laws in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The earlier provision created a cosy arrangement of local ownerships that served the state's political elite well. But it denied economic opportunities and social gains for the masses. The resulting separatist sentiments in some quarters were then exploited by neighbouring Pakistan to conduct cross-border terrorism," he wrote.
"Parliament's changes to Jammu and Kashmir's status are constitutionally proper and received support beyond the ruling Bharatiya Janata party and its allies as it was passed by a two-thirds majority. It reflects a larger consensus on the need for drastic reform," he noted.
The article went on the lay out the context of the Modi government's move and claims that although the central government spent 10 times more on the average resident of Jammu and Kashmir than in the rest of the country, that investment did not show up on the ground.
"The inability to apply national laws has led to the denial of socio-economic justice. State laws did not give women equal rights on property and prevented child protection programmes. They rejected affirmative action that was practised in the rest of India," Jaishankar said.
"Domestic violence laws, female representation in local bodies and the right to education were all kept at bay. Discrimination against refugees was open," he added.
-- PTI
19:02 Govt approves 8.65% interest on EPF
The Labour Ministry has notified 8.65 per cent interest rate on employees provident fund for 2018-19, which will now be credited to the accounts of more than 6 crore subscribers of retirement fund body EPFO, Union minister Santosh Gangwar said on Tuesday.
The EPFO has been settling EPF withdrawal claims at 8.55 per cent interest rate, approved for 2017-18. Now, the EPFO will settle accounts at a higher rate of 8.65 per cent for 2018-19.
"It gives me immense pleasure that for fiscal 2018-19, Labour Ministry has notified 8.65 per cent rate of interest on employees' provident fund. This rate of interest is 10 basis points higher than 8.55 per cent provided in 2017-18," Gangwar said in a statement issues here.
"This rate of interest (8.65 per cent) was approved by the EPFO's apex decision making body Central Board of Trustees on February 22, 2019. We received concurrence of the Finance Ministry on September 19, 2019. Thereafter, Labour Ministry issued a notification for providing 8.65 per cent rate of interest for 2018-19," the minister said.
The minister also informed that this decision would pave the way for crediting Rs 54,000 crore as 8.65 per cent interest for 2018-19, into the accounts of more than 6 crore EPFO subscribers.
-- PTI
18:43 Minor dies under debris of partially collapsed building in Mumbai
A 10-year-old girl who was trapped under the debris of a partially collapsed building in suburban Khar, died on Tuesday.
Mahi Motvani who was rescued and rushed to the Lilavati hospital was declared as brought dead by doctors. Dr Kanika Mahajan, CMO, Lilavati Hospital said: "A casualty named Mahi Motwani was declared brought dead at 1700 hrs."
The incident occurred around 1:13 pm when a portion of the staircase of the residential building 'Puja' collapsed.
Fire engines along with an ambulance NDRF and police personnel involved in the rescue teams had evacuated the building but Motvani was trapped in the debris.
18:19 UK PM says disagrees but will respect Supreme Court ruling
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday said he disagreed with but would respect the Supreme Court ruling which found his decision to suspend parliament unlawful.
"I have to say that I strongly disagree with what the justices have found. I don't think that it's right but we will go ahead and of course parliament will come back," he told British broadcasters during a visit to New York.
18:02 Situation very bad in Kashmir, says Azad
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday reached Jammu on the second-leg of his six-day tour of Jammu and Kashmir and said the situation in the Valley is "very bad".
Azad, the leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, had reached Srinagar on Friday on his maiden visit to the state after the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5.
His three earlier bids to reach Srinagar had failed as he had been turned back from the airport by the authorities.
When asked by reporters as to what was his assessment of the situation in Kashmir, Azad replied, "It is very bad."
"I do not have to say anything to media right now. I spent four days in Kashmir and arrived here to spend two more days in Jammu. After the end of the six-day tour, I will say whatever I have to say," he told reporters outside his residence.
In response to another question about submitting of his assessment report of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir to the Supreme Court, the former state chief minister said a decision on this would be taken after his return to Delhi.
"I was not even allowed by the administration to visit 10 per cent of the places where I had planned to go in the valley during my stay there," he said.
Asked about detention of political leaders and curbs on political activities, Azad said, "There is no mark of freedom of speech in Jammu and Kashmir."
Azad's visit became possible after the Supreme Court on September 16 allowed him to tour the state.
-- PTI
17:34 Over 5,000 signatories to petition for protecting 'fundamental right of liberty' of Chidambaram
Over 5,000 people including senior Congress leaders have signed a petition to protect the "fundamental right of liberty" of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who is lodged in Tihar Jail since September 5 for alleged corruption in the INX Media case.
The citizens in their petition have claimed that the INX Media case is "bogus" and said it has been a month since Chidambaram's arrest by the CBI but it is yet to file a charge sheet in the case.
Among the leaders who have signed the petition include Shashi Tharoor and Karti Chidambaram. The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee has urged people to sign the petition and has put out a tweet in this regard.
The petition said the alleged crime dates back to 2007 in granting FDI proposals to a company called INX Media but the FIR was registered in 2017 after 10 years.
"Till date the CBI has not been able to provide a single piece of concrete evidence against Mr P Chidambaram. The INX proposal was first examined by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board that includes several senior officials and was headed by the then finance secretary, was signed by 11 other officials without any dissent note and was cleared along with several other proposals of foreign investment.
"So far none of the officials has been arrested in this case and none of the officers has said anything against Mr Chidambaram," it said.
According to the signatories, the CBI arrested Chidambaram only to "satisfy few people in the government" and termed the action as "nothing but vendetta politics" by the ruling BJP.
"Mr P Chidambaram who is a senior citizen and a former Union cabinet minister is not being treated well in the prison. He was even denied a chair and pillow. Its really sad that Mr P Chidambaram is being denied his fundamental right to liberty on the grounds of a case that has no basis but has been built by a propaganda machinery which relies on the usual tools of gossip, innuendo and false conjenctures," the petition claimed.
"Let us protest against vendetta politics and fight for developmental and positive governance. Mr P Chidambaram is a legendary expert and a visionary leader. Stalwarts like him should be nurtured and utilised at this time of great distress to the economy and not be subject to vicious harassment," the petition also stated.
-- PTI
17:24 Delhi shakes after earthquake in Pak
Mild tremors were felt in Delhi and its neighbouring areas after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck north-west of Lahore this afternoon. The tremors, which lasted a few seconds, were felt at around 4:35 pm, many in Delhi reported. The tremors were also felt in parts of north India, including Kashmir, Punjab's Chandigarh and Uttarakhand's Dehradun. There are also reports of tremors in some cities in Pakistan including Islamabad, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Lahore.
So far, there have been no reports of any loss to life or property due to the earthquake.
17:10 Naxals blow up oil tanker in Chhattisgarh; three killed
Three people were killed when Naxals blew up an oil tanker with an improvised explosive device in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Tuesday, police said. The incident took place around 10 am between Kosronda and Tumapal villages when the diesel-laden tanker was engaged in rail track laying work in Rowghat area, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Vivekanand Sinha told PTI.
17:09 Amish Tripathi to head Nehru Centre, London
Writer Amish Tripathi has been appointed the Director of the Nehru Centre, London. The Nehru Centre promotes cultural exchanges between UK and India. Tripathi, a graduate from IIM Kolkata, is the author of the popular mythology books, the Shiva trilogies and the Ram Chandra series. Gopalkrishna Gandhi was the Nehru Centre's first director, which has also had playwright Girish Karnad and writer-diplomat Pavan Varma as its chiefs.
16:55 Part of 5-storey building collapses in Mumbai; no casualty
A portion of a five-storey building collapsed in suburban Khar on Tuesday afternoon, but no casualty was reported, a fire brigade official said. The incident took place around 2.20 pm when part of a staircase of the residential building, located near Khar Gymkhana, came crashing down, he said.
"No casualty has been reported so far and efforts are underway to clear the debris," he said.
A rescue team was trying to ascertain if anyone was trapped under the rubble, he said. Four fire engines along with rescue vans, an ambulance, local civic officials, National Disaster Response Force and police personnel rushed to the spot, he added. -- PTI
16:45 Tremors felt in Delhi
Tremors felt in Delhi NCR. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. Earthquake of magnitude 6.1 at Richter scale strikes 173 km North West of Lahore, Pakistan.
16:34 Pak Army terms Gen Rawat's statement on Balakot 'irresponsible'
Pakistan army on Tuesday termed Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat's remarks on Balakot as "irresponsible".
The Foreign Office also rejected Rawat's statement. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammad Faisal on Tuesday said that India's statements and measures are a threat to regional peace and stability.
The comments of spokesperson of Pakistan Armed Forces, Major General Asif Ghafoor, on Twitter and the foreign office came a day after the Gen Rawat said that Pakistan has recently reactivated the terror camp in Balakot.
"Let me tell you, Balakot has been reactivated by Pakistan very recently. Obviously that shows that Balakot was affected and damaged and destroyed. That is why people had got away from there," Rawat said while addressing a press conference in Chennai.
He was responding to questions on whether there were new terror launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
"It highlights that some action had been taken by the Indian Air Force at Balakot and now they have got the people back there," Rawat added.
-- ANI
16:23 Decision to suspend parliament unlawful: UK SC
In a major setback for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britain's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in a historic verdict that his decision to suspend Parliament in the run-up to Brexit was "unlawful".
Johnson suspended, or prorogued, Parliament for five weeks earlier this month, saying it was to allow for a Queen's Speech to outline policies of his new government.
However, Opposition MPs and many members of his own Conservative Party had accused him of trying to escape parliamentary scrutiny during a crunch phase ahead of the October 31 Brexit deadline. Indian-origin anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller had challenged his decision in the UK High Court, which had referred it to the highest court of the country.
"The decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue parliament was unlawful," Supreme Court President Lady Brenda Hale said, as she handed down the verdict on Tuesday. "The effect on the fundamentals of our democracy was extreme," she said.
She said the unanimous decision of the 11 justices was that Parliament had not been prorogued -- the decision was null and of no effect '" and it was for the Speakers of the Commons and Lords to decide what to do next. It marks a major setback for Johnson, who is currently in the US for the United Nations General Assembly. He had insisted that courts should not intervene in such political matters. -- PTI
16:15 Market ends flat after 2-day rally
Benchmark stock gauges Sensex and Nifty ended on a flat note on Tuesday as investors scrambled to book profits after a stellar two-day rally. After gyrating 393 points during the day, the 30-share index ended 7.11 points or 0.02 per cent higher, at 39,097.14.
While, the broader NSE Nifty settled with a marginal gain of 12 points, or 0.10 per cent, at 11,588.20. On the Sensex chart, major laggards were SBI, Axis Bank, L&T, Hero MotoCorp, Asian Paints, ONGC, Tata Steel and Bajaj Finance -- dropping up to 3.56 per cent. Among the top gainers were Infosys, RIL, TechM, Tata Motors, Maruti, PowerGrid, HCL Tech, TCS and Yes Bank -- rising up to 3.78 per cent.
According to traders, benchmark indices took a breather after a two-day rally as participants booked profits at higher levels.
In the past two days, Sensex zoomed 2,996.56 points, or 8.30 per cent; while the 50-share Nifty soared 895.40 points or 8.36 per cent. Domestic equity markets cheered Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivering a surprise cut in corporate tax rates last week. -- PTI
16:06 Not Siddaramaiah's parrot: Kumaraswamy
JD-S leader H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday attacked Congress leader Siddaramaiah for some of his comments and said he was not a 'parrot' domesticated by Siddaramaiah.
The comments came in the wake of a tweet by Siddaramaiah against Kumaraswamy. (Secular), "Yes Mr H D Kumaraswamy, it is true that the parrots which I believed in are haunted. It is my whole fault that even after four decades of political companionship, we made a coalition with vultures. Doesn't it bite @INC?," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to media persons in Channapatna, Kumaraswamy stated, "I am not a parrot domesticated by Siddaramaiah. There are several like him who prospered under H D Deve Gowda. I became CM due to blessings from the Congress high command."
Kumaraswamy further accused Siddaramaiah of not listening to the directives of Congress high command resulting in the collapse of Congress-JDS coalition. -- ANI
15:52 HDK predicts political drama after K'taka polls
As political parties in Karnataka prepare for by-polls to 15 assembly constituencies, JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday predicted that new "political drama" may unfold in the state after October 24 by-election results. He also said party candidates would be fielded in all the constituencies.
"... Party has decided to go it alone in this bypolls. By September 30 nominations have to be filed. In another two days we will complete the process of selection of candidates, local party workers will be fielded," Kumaraswamy said.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, he said the party's target is to win maximum number of seats and efforts are on to strengthen the organisation and win confidence of the people.
"This election is acid test for all political parties, also for the government. Let's see what all new political drama will unfold after October 24 results," he added.
JD(S) that had run a coalition government and contested Lok Sabha polls in alliance with Congress, but has decided to go it alone in this by-polls. By-elections to constituencies represented by 15 out of 17 disqualified former Congress-JD(S) legislators will be held on October 21 and results will be declared on October 24. Among 15 constituencies that will go for polls, 12 were represented by Congress and 3 by JD(S). -- PTI
15:22 ! Deora reacts to criticism for praising Modi
Former Congress MP Milind Deora seems to have put his party in a spot.
24 Akbar Road, the Congress headquarters is concerned that Deora has been heaping praise on PM Narendra Modi's mega success mega event -- Howdy Modi, in Houston, Texas, on Sunday.
Deora's tweet yesterday was an acknowledgment of Modi's inroads in Indo-US diplomacy, when he said, "@PMOIndia's Houston address was a momentous first for India's soft power diplomacy. My father Murlibhai was one of the early architects of deeper Indo-US ties. @realDonaldTrump's hospitality & recognition of Indian Americans' contributions makes us proud."
The GoP would have probably overlooked his praise and dismissed it with an arched eyebrow, but for the PM's response to the tweet.
@narendramodi replied, "Thank you @milinddeora. You are absolutely correct when you highlight my friend, late Murli Deora Ji's commitment to strong ties with USA. He would have been really glad to see the strengthening of ties between our nations. The warmth and hospitality of @POTUS was outstanding."
Deora replied, "Thank you @narendramodiji!
Murlibhai put nation first & worked with all governments in India & the US to deepen ties between our great countries.
In my many interactions with my Democrat & Republican friends, they, too, acknowledge India's leadership in the 21st century."
This has caused much heartburn in the Congress party. It's only a matter of time that the Congress leadership is likely to enforce disciplinary action
against Deora especially when Maharashtra is headed to the polls.
Kiren Rijiju @KirenRijiju's praise for Deora hasn't helped either. The minister tweeted, "A matured & honest political comment by my dear friend @milinddeora
"Dare to be honest and fear no labor. "Honesty is not only the deepest policy, but the highest wisdom" -- Charles Caleb Colton."
@milinddeora responded: "Thank you, Kiren. I have always believed that Foreign Policy should be divorced from partisan politics."
The Congress has been upset with former Union minister Jairam Ramesh when he had said that Modi's governance model was "not a complete negative story" and added that not recognising his work and "demonising" him all the time was not going to help.
Deora, aware he may have breached the unsaid rule of not praising the PM and thereby the BJP and the former MP took to Twitter once again and wrote a lengthy statement, which we reproduce herein,
"I have noticed several reports speculating over the exchange of tweets between Shri Narendra Modi and me.
"I have inherited the legacy of the Inda-United States relationship from my late father Shri Murli Deora. My father first visited the US in 1968 as an exchange student, and after meeting Robert F Kennedy, decided to enter public life and build stronger ties between both democracies.
"My family's relationships with institutions, political parties and leaders in the US were built over five decades keeping India's best interests in m ind.
I am proud to state that Murlibhai's efforts and relationships helped strengthen India's national interest.
"My late father worked closely with Indian Prime Ministers and US Presidents - cutting across party lines - in the spirit of bipartisanship. "Murlibhai deserves respect because he was a true patriot who put nation first. Fortunately, politics at the time was not as confrontational and
ungracious as it is today.
"While I appreciate the kind words expressed by Murlibhai's friends and well-wishers, I express regret on the insi nuations and unwarranted criticism in sections of media and social media.
"For those who have already imagined and chartered my forward path, I wish to give you one unambiguous answer: I will serve my country to the best of my ability and I will remain bipartisan when it comes to issues of national interest and foreign policy. The experience and relationships that I have inherited and nurtured have little meaning if they cannot be leveraged for India.
"Finally, I am my father's son. Friendship was the bedrock of his politics. It has earned us friends and well-wishers from Bhuleshwar to Boston and Walkeshwar to Washington. I will not compromise on my core beliefs even though politics continues to become increasingly uncharitable and partisan."
14:25 Farewell, chief
Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Chief of the Air Staff, made a farewell call on President Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President of India is the head of all the three forces.
The government has appointed Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria as the new chief of the Indian Air Force. Bhadauria, who is currently vice chief of air staff, will take over the post of chief of Air staff after Dhanoa retires on September 30.
14:22 Nadda to visit Bengal ahead of Durga Puja
BJP working president JP Nadda will fly to Kolkata on September 27. During his two day visit, Nadda will address an organizational meeting and an event on abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and National Register for Citizens in Salt Lake Stadium.
Later, at 7 pm on the same day, Nadda will hold a meeting with the state officials.
On September 28, the BJP working president will organize a ritual of tarpan (paying homage to ancestors) at the mass level at Babughat on the day of Mahalaya, which marks beginning of the Durga Puja festival.
He will offer tarpan in the name of BJP workers killed in political violence in Bengal in the last couple of years.
The next Assembly election in West Bengal is in 2021 hence all the political quarters especially the BJP and the TMC are leaving no stone unturned to tap this festival season to reach out to the locals.In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, BJP managed to bag as many as 18 seats out of 42 parliament seats and emerged as the challenger for Mamata Banerjee led TMC. -- PTI
14:20 Need to identify inter district terror modules: DGP Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Dilbag Singh on Tuesday stressed on the need to identify inter-district terror modules involved in carrying out atrocities on people and initiate strict action against them.
The Director General of Police said all the steps required to thwart the "ill designs" of the anti-national elements and their mentors should be taken.
"The inter district modules of the terrorists involved in atrocities on people should be identified and strict action taken against them", Singh told police officers during a security meeting in South Kashmir's Pahalgam belt on Monday.
13:58 Slashing corporate tax rates a bold measure: RBI guv
The government's recent decision to cut corporate tax rates is a bold measure and augurs well for the economy, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Tuesday.
"It is a very bold measure and it is a highly positive step. India's corporate tax now becomes very competitive compared to other emerging market economies in ASEAN and other parts of Asia," he said while talking to reporters.
"So far as international investors are concerned, I think India definitely stands in a very competitive position and will be able to attract higher investments," said Das.
He added that lower corporate tax will leave domestic companies with more cash to undertake fresh capital expenditure.
"They can invest more. Some of them can deleverage their liabilities, which will add strength to their balance sheets.
"Many southeast Asian economies like Malaysia, Indonesia and China charge 24 to 25 per cent corporation tax.Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday slashed the effective corporate tax rates to 25.17 per cent (inclusive of all cess and surcharges) from 30 per cent for all domestic companies. -- PTI
13:29 ! SC asks Centre for guidelines on social media use
The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that technology has taken a "dangerous turn" and asked the Centre to apprise it within three weeks about the time-frame needed to come up with guidelines to curb misuse of social media in the country.
A bench of justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose expressed serious concern over some social media platforms not being able to trace the originator of a message or an online content and said the government must step in now.
The bench said neither the apex court nor the high court is competent to decide this scientific issue and it is for the government to come up with appropriate guideline to deal with these issues.
SC says tracing originator of social media message, content is serious issue and policy is needed for this. "We can't get away by saying that we don't have a technology to track originators of online crime, if there is a technology to do it, then there is a technology to stop it," the court said.
13:22 Indian Army statement on reactivation of Balakot baseless: Pak
Pakistan on Tuesday rejected as "completely baseless" the Indian Army chief's statement on the reactivation of a Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot that was destroyed by the IAF in February.
Army chief General Bipin Rawat in Chennai on Monday said Pakistan has reactivated the Balakot terror camp very recently and about 500 infiltrators were waiting to sneak into India.
The response to the terror camp getting functional again may go beyond India's previous response by way of an air strike in February, he told reporters here at the Officers Training Academy in the Tamil Nadu capital.
The Indian Army Chief's statement on the reactivation of terror camp in Balakot is "completely baseless", the Foreign Office said in a statement. The allegation of "infiltration" from Pakistan reflects "a desperate attempt" of India to divert international attention from the "humanitarian crisis" in Jammu and Kashmir, it said, adding that New Delhi will not "succeed in misleading the world community through these diversionary tactics".
Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India on August 5 revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated it into two union territories. -- PTI
12:51 Rajeev Kumar claims CBI 'hounding' him, seeks pre-arrest bail
Former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Tuesday claimed that the CBI was "hounding" him, while seeking anticipatory bail before the Calcutta High Court in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund case. Kumar, who is currently the additional director general of West Bengal CID, said that his leave will end on Wednesday and his prayer for pre-arrest bail be taken up for hearing urgently.
Moving the anticipatory bail prayer, his counsel Debasish Roy submitted before a division bench presided by Justice S Munshi, that "the CBI is hounding me (Kumar) like anything."
CBI sleuths have gone to several places, including his official residence at Park Street, in search of the elusive officer. Kumar's pre-arrest bail prayer was rejected by the Alipore district and sessions court on September 21.
The agency has given multiple notices to Kumar to appear before it for questioning as a witness in the Saradha scam case. He, however, did not appear before the CBI and has sought more time on every occasion. -- PTI
12:31 'Each man had purely political goals, and they both achieved them'
"The image of Trump and Modi walking around the stadium, hand in hand and beaming broadly, was one for the ages," Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia programme and senior associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center, a leading Washington, DC think-tank, tells Archana Masih/Rediff.com. Read the interview here
12:18 She seems very happy: Trump's jibe at Thunberg
US President Donald Trump appears to have taken a swipe at the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, tweeting a video of the visibly emotional 16-year-old, saying sarcastically that she seems to be "very happy" and looking forward to a bright future.
"She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see! tweeted the US president late on Monday night.
In the stinging speech on Monday at the United Nations Climate Action Summit, Thunberg said, "You are still not mature enough to tell it like it is. You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal.
"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words," she said.
She briefly crossed paths with Trump at the United Nations yesterday, as he arrived to attend a meeting on religious freedom. The US president choose to forgo the UN climate summit, held on the same day. The look as he walks past her (and to be fair he did not see her) is a meme in the making.
Image: Greta Thunberg told world leaders: 'How dare you you have stolen my dreams and my childhood'.
11:43 Champaran readies to celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi
The East Champaran district administration in Bihar will celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in a grand manner. The week-long celebrations beginning Wednesday will conclude on Gandhi Jayanti, which is also the foundation day of the district.
Gandhi had brought this non-descript district into the spotlight by launching his first mass movement on the Indian soil from here a century ago.
The programmes would include special camps for bringing public services to the weakest sections of the society, drives aimed at spreading the message of cleanliness and environmental preservation, yoga and blood donation camps besides cultural activities based on the life and ideals of Gandhi.
The celebrations will begin with "development camps" to be held on September 25 at all Mahadalit localities in the district.
Also read: Why Gandhi can never be erased from history. Rediff.com's Archana Masih travels to Bhitiharwa in Champaran, Bihar, where Gandhi began his walk into history.
11:22 What Trump told Imran on Kashmir
Remarks by US President Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan before the bilateral meeting yesterday.
PRIME MINISTER KHAN: I look forward, Mr. President, to talk to you about, obviously, Afghanistan, which is a big issue for us Pakistanis, because stability in Afghanistan means stability in Pakistan. We also want to talk about all three neighbors: Afghanistan, India, Kashmir. And, of course, Iran, it's just '" we will discuss the situation there because all '" these all three neighbors of Pakistan. And I ...
PRESIDENT TRUMP: He lives in a very friendly neighborhood. (Laughter.)
PRIME MINISTER KHAN: I mean, as if there are not already enough challenges.
Read the full transcript here
11:13
Beed in Maharashtra received heavy rainfall last night.
10:43 Biocon subsidiary acquires research facility from Pfizer Healthcare
Biotechnology major Biocon on Tuesday said its subsidiary has acquired a Chennai-based biological research facility from Pfizer Healthcare for an undisclosed amount. Biocon Biologics has acquired research and development (R&D) capital assets of a 60,000-square feet research facility at Ticel Bio Park in Chennai, Biocon said in a statement.
"The high-end integrated R&D facility in Chennai will enable Biocon Biologics to expand its R&D capability and accelerate its journey towards meeting its strategic long-term goal of addressing the needs of millions of patients worldwide," Biocon Biologics CEO Christiane Hamacher said. This investment will allow the company to fast-forward development of its biosimilars from lab to pilot scale, he added. -- PTI
10:40 Inclusiveness works best against terrorism: PM
PM Modi shared his experience in countering terrorism at the Leaders' Dialogue on Strategic Responses to Terrorist and Violent Extremist Narratives, held on the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly session on Monday. He said that democratic values, diversity and inclusive development are the most important weapons against ideologies that promote terrorism, extremism and radicalism, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs A Gitesh Sarma told reporters in New York after the meeting.
Modi called for global solidarity and readiness against terrorism in the same way as the world has shown solidarity against challenges like climate change.
The meeting also took stock of the Christchurch Call to Action to eliminate terrorists and violent extremist content online. India has supported the Christchurch Call to sanitize cyberspace from contents which promote and eulogise terrorism, hate and violence, Sarma said.
India's rising stature and strong democratic credentials increasingly resonate in multilateral fora and were very much exemplified by French President Emmanuel Macron's opening statement where he expressed appreciation for India's association to the Christchurch call, particularly as a democracy that represents over a billion people, he said.
Macron said India's support takes the entire initiative to new levels and gives it a greater sense of action towards dealing with, content and use of online techniques. -- PTI
10:40 Inclusiveness biggest weapon against terrorism: PM
PM Modi shared his experience in countering terrorism at the Leaders' Dialogue on Strategic Responses to Terrorist and Violent Extremist Narratives, held on the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly session on Monday. He said that democratic values, diversity and inclusive development are the most important weapons against ideologies that promote terrorism, extremism and radicalism, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs A Gitesh Sarma told reporters in New York after the meeting.
Modi called for global solidarity and readiness against terrorism in the same way as the world has shown solidarity against challenges like climate change.
The meeting also took stock of the Christchurch Call to Action to eliminate terrorists and violent extremist content online. India has supported the Christchurch Call to sanitize cyberspace from contents which promote and eulogise terrorism, hate and violence, Sarma said.
India's rising stature and strong democratic credentials increasingly resonate in multilateral fora and were very much exemplified by French President Emmanuel Macron's opening statement where he expressed appreciation for India's association to the Christchurch call, particularly as a democracy that represents over a billion people, he said.
Macron said India's support takes the entire initiative to new levels and gives it a greater sense of action towards dealing with, content and use of online techniques. -- PTI
10:40 Inclusiveness biggest weapon against terrorism: PM
PM Modi shared his experience in countering terrorism at the Leaders' Dialogue on Strategic Responses to Terrorist and Violent Extremist Narratives, held on the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly session on Monday. He said that democratic values, diversity and inclusive development are the most important weapons against ideologies that promote terrorism, extremism and radicalism, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs A Gitesh Sarma told reporters in New York after the meeting.
Modi called for global solidarity and readiness against terrorism in the same way as the world has shown solidarity against challenges like climate change.
The meeting also took stock of the Christchurch Call to Action to eliminate terrorists and violent extremist content online. India has supported the Christchurch Call to sanitize cyberspace from contents which promote and eulogise terrorism, hate and violence, Sarma said.
India's rising stature and strong democratic credentials increasingly resonate in multilateral fora and were very much exemplified by French President Emmanuel Macron's opening statement where he expressed appreciation for India's association to the Christchurch call, particularly as a democracy that represents over a billion people, he said.
Macron said India's support takes the entire initiative to new levels and gives it a greater sense of action towards dealing with, content and use of online techniques. -- PTI
10:39 Inclusiveness biggest weapon against terrorism: PM
PM Modi shared his experience in countering terrorism at the Leaders' Dialogue on Strategic Responses to Terrorist and Violent Extremist Narratives, held on the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly session on Monday. He said that democratic values, diversity and inclusive development are the most important weapons against ideologies that promote terrorism, extremism and radicalism, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs A Gitesh Sarma told reporters in New York after the meeting.
Modi called for global solidarity and readiness against terrorism in the same way as the world has shown solidarity against challenges like climate change.
The meeting also took stock of the Christchurch Call to Action to eliminate terrorists and violent extremist content online. India has supported the Christchurch Call to sanitize cyberspace from contents which promote and eulogise terrorism, hate and violence, Sarma said.
India's rising stature and strong democratic credentials increasingly resonate in multilateral fora and were very much exemplified by French President Emmanuel Macron's opening statement where he expressed appreciation for India's association to the Christchurch call, particularly as a democracy that represents over a billion people, he said.
Macron said India's support takes the entire initiative to new levels and gives it a greater sense of action towards dealing with, content and use of online techniques. -- PTI
10:13 There is no good or bad terrorism: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that terrorist attacks anywhere in the world should be considered as an act of terrorism -- "not more or less" or "good or bad".
During his address at the Leaders' Dialogue on Strategic Responses to Terrorist and Violent Extremist Narratives, held on the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly session on Monday, Modi called for institutionalization of counter-terrorism cooperation at the multilateral level and asserted that India will work towards enhancing ongoing cooperation and capacity building of friendly countries in this area.
"The prime minister said that terrorists should not be allowed to get funds and arms, for this objective to be realised," Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs A Gitesh Sarma told reporters in New York after the meeting.
Modi also asserted the need to avoid politicisation of mechanisms like UN sanction listings and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and said that these mechanisms need to be enforced.
A terrorist attack anywhere in the world "should be considered terrorism -- not good or bad terrorism. Not more or less", the prime minister said. He said there should be a "qualitative upgradation" in the ongoing cooperation and intelligence sharing through bilateral and regional frameworks.
Sharing India's experience, Modi told the meeting that democratic values, diversity and inclusive development are the most important weapons against ideologies that promote terrorism, extremism and radicalism, Sarma said. -- PTI
Image: PM Modi addresses a session on Universal Health Coverage yesterday.
09:49 Pakistan's UN envoy call British PM Johnson 'foreign minister'
In a major goof-up, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi on Monday called British Prime Minister Boris Johnson "Foreign Minister" on Twitter.
"Prime Minister Imran Khan met British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson this morning," Lodhi tweeted as she put out a picture of the meeting.
She deleted the tweet after around an hour and put out another picture "Sorry typo in previous tweet. Prime Minister Imran Khan Met British PM this morning".
It is not the first time that Lodhi has caused embarrassment to Pakistan.
In 2017, Lodhi held up a photograph of a scarred girl at the United Nations, she said she was offering proof of "brutality" in Kashmir.
But the photo turned out to be that of a 17-year-old Palestinian girl, taken in Gaza in 2014 by award-winning photographer Heidi Levine.
The teenager had been injured by shrapnel in an Israeli attack. -- PTI
09:47 Over 6,000 youth take part in Army recruitment drive in J-K
More than 6000 youth took part in the recruitment drive organised by the army in the bordering Sowjian belt for the post of porter in Poonch on Tuesday.
The recruitment drive was organised by 40 Rashtriya Rifles unit of the Indian Army.
Amidst the complaints of large-scale unemployment in the area, the candidates expressed their gratitude to the administration for carrying out the recruitment.
Thankful to the Indian Army, a local of Poonch, Khalil said, "We thank the army for keeping the recruitment as there is a lot of unemployment here."
One of the candidates, Altaf hailing from Nowhera, requested the government to carry out more such recruitments in order to provide the youth of the region with livelihood opportunities.
"There is so much unemployment here that more than 5000 people are desperate for the job of a porter. If we are craving for the job of porter then imagine what would happen if there was permanent recruitment here? We have graduates and postgraduates here who are competing for this job," he said. -- ANI
08:58 After Houston, Modi to meet Trump in New York
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday afternoon (local time).
"PM Modi will meet President Trump at 12:15 p.m. (local time) tomorrow," external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said during a press briefing in New York.
The meeting comes a day after the US President had shared the dais with Modi to address nearly 50,000 Indian-Americans and Hindu-Americans 'Howdy, Mody!' event in Houston.
Taking the US-India relations to new heights, the leaders of the world's two biggest democracies echoed similar sentiments on pressing issues such as climate change, terrorism, energy and trade.
Notably, the friendship between Modi and Trump was on full display at the event.
In a never-seen-before display of camaraderie, the two leaders held hands and took a lap around the NRG Stadium after the two leaders addressed the 'Howdy, Modi!' event.
Prime Minister also took the occasion to vouch for Trump ahead of 2020 presidential elections, saying "ab ki baar Trump sarkar" - modifying the 'Ab ki Baar Modi sarkar' slogan coined for the BJP's 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign. -- ANI
08:35 Joining US after 9/11 was biggest blunder: Imran
Prime Minister Imran Khan admitted on Monday that Pakistan committed "one of the biggest blunders" by joining the United States after the 9/11 attacks, saying the previous governments "should not have pledged what they could not deliver."
Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank in New York, Khan also said the least he expects the international community to do is to urge India to lift the curfew in Kashmir.
Responding to a question, Khan said he had urged his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to "reset" bilateral ties and his government waited to resume talks until after the elections in India were over but then it found that "India is pushing us in the blacklist of the Financial Action Task Force to bankrupt us."
He said that by abrogating Article 370, India had cast aside the United Nations Security Council resolutions, the Simla accord and its own Constitution.
Khan said he would ask the UN to play its role on the Kashmir issue.
Pakistan has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue but India has asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 was its "internal matter". New Delhi has also asked Islamabad to accept the reality and stop its anti-India rhetoric.
When asked about former US defence secretary James Mattis' remark that he considered Pakistan to be "the most dangerous" among all countries he had dealt with, Khan said: "I do not think Mattis fully understands why Pakistan became radicalised."
Khan said Pakistan "committed one of the biggest blunders" when it joined the US war on terror after the 9/11 terror attacks by the al-Qaeda.
"I think the Pakistani government should not have pledged what they could not deliver," Khan said, referring to the then military dictator General Pervez Musharraf's decision to side with the US.
Pakistan was one of the three countries which recognised the Taliban government in Afghanistan before the US invasion in 2001 there.
After the US invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks, Pakistan extended support to American forces against the Taliban. -- PTI
00:24
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00:14 Trump says not at all worried about impeachment
US President Donald Trump dismissed the threat of impeachment over allegations that he tried to pressure Ukraine's leader into investigating his 2020 election rival Joe Biden.
Asked if he was taking the threat from some Democrats seriously, Trump answered: "Not at all seriously."
US media reports revealed that an intelligence community whistleblower had filed a report after becoming alarmed at Trump's alleged attempt to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a phone call.
Trump has confirmed that he discussed what he says was corruption by Biden's family during the call but denies applying pressure on Zelensky.
"We had a perfect phone call," he told reporters.
"Everybody knows it's just a Democrat witch hunt."
Trump has spent much of his first term as president fighting off allegations that he benefited from Russian-sponsored interference during his surprise 2016 win over Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.
As the 2020 election approaches, worries are mounting over further attempts from abroad to meddle in the tense US political landscape.
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