In apparent reference to the recent spat between the government and the Reserve Bank, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said there should be a regular dialogue between the two in the boardroom to arrive at solutions to address problems affecting economy.
Referring to the issue of liquidity crunch, Naidu said the problem was because few “black sheep” who have taken the system for ride, affecting the entire industry.
“All of us have to introspect. Politicians… and the industry. A few people.. have taken the system for a ride and banks lent money left and right…
“RBI was not doing things at that time and now they have tightened everything, so there are there are problems…,” he said.
Naidu said these problems have to analysed and understood. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government of India must have a regular continuous dialogue.
“There is no question of who is powerful or who is final. Final are the people and their interest. All these systems are created to facilitate people’s welfare.
“So they should have to have a dialogue within their boardroom rather than discussions through media and then come to some solutions addressing the actual problems,” he said while addressing the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI).
Amid growing tensions with the central bank, the Finance Ministry had earlier sought discussions under the never-used-before Section 7 of the RBI Act which empowers the government to issue directions to the RBI Governor.
RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya had in a speech last month talked about the independence of the central bank, arguing that any compromise could be “potentially catastrophic” for the economy.
On November 19, the RBI board had held a marathon meeting amid a rift between the central bank and the government over several issues including how much capital the apex bank needs, lending norms for small and medium enterprises and rules for weak banks.
Following the meeting, the RBI and the government agreed to refer to an expert committee the contentious issue of appropriate size of reserves that the RBI must hold, while restructuring of stressed loans of small businesses would be considered by the central bank.
Vice-President Naidu further said India was the most favoured destination for investment and global organisations like World Bank and World Economic Forum, which are of the view that if the country continues with its reform process, it will become the third-largest economy in the world.
He also called upon the textiles industry, which contributes more than 3 per cent to the GDP, to adopt new innovative technology in line with the demands of 4th industrial revolution.
Addressing the gathering, Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani said the government was committed for the growth of the textile industry.
Three unidentified militants and a soldier were killed while two jawans were injured in two separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam and Pulwama districts on Tuesday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Redwani area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir around midnight, a police official said here. The operation was launched after receiving information about the presence of militants in the area, he said. The officer said as the searches were going on, militants fired on the forces, who retaliated. Two militants were killed in the ensuing gunfight and three soldiers were injured, he said, adding that one of the injured soldiers later succumbed at a hospital. The official said arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials were seized from the encounter site. In another operation at Hafoo area of Tral in Pulwama district, an unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with security forces, he said. The identity and the group affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained, the official said.
The Shiv Sena on Tuesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre for failing to fulfill its promise of bringing back black money stashed money from abroad to the country.
“There are a lot of mysteries which the people want to know about in our country. Similarly, black money is one such thing,” the Shiv Sena said in its editorial mouthpiece, Saamna.
The Shiv Sena cornered their ally and blamed them for breaking the general public’s trust and merely using it for garnering votes.
“They (BJP) had promised to return back money stashed abroad and each citizen would receive Rs. 15 lakh in their account. The public bestowed faith in them and they used it for hoarding votes. But with the next Lok Sabha elections approaching, neither the black money has been retrieved nor we know how much stashed money came from abroad?” the Shiv Sena questioned.
The editorial further read that the ruling party has remained mum over the issue of black money and the authorities are also tight-lipped.
The Shiv Sena added that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) refused to share details on the amount of ill-gotten wealth brought back from abroad, citing an RTI Act provision that prevents disclosure of information which might hinder the probe and prosecution of offenders.
“When we demanded the quantum of black money stashed abroad, the government failed to provide information on the same. With this, the mystery of black money has deepened further,” the party said in its mouthpiece.
The Shiv Sena further claimed that the Centre carried out the demonetisation exercise for “publicity” as it failed to clamp down on black money, terrorism, Naxalism, and corruption.
“The truth of demonetisation has been revealed in the RBI report. Now, they are denying information on the quantum of black money brought back from abroad. Black money is like cancer for the economy and they have destroyed the country,” it added.
The Maharashtra Assembly was adjourned twice on Tuesday over the issue of tabling in the House of the State Backward Class Commission’s report recommending quota for the Maratha community.
The Opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have been demanding since last week that the report be tabled in the Legislature.
As soon as Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde called for the Question Hour on Tuesday, Congress’ Deputy Leader in the House Vijay Waddetiwar requested that the House be adjourned for 10 minutes since a meeting of group leaders of various parties was underway in the Legislature premises.
Bagde then adjourned the Lower House for 10 minutes.
Later, when the House reassembled, presiding officer Subhash Sabne adjourned it till 12.15 pm.
Before Sabne entered the Assembly to announce the second adjournment, Waddetiwar came in and asked all the opposition members to come out of the House.
Earlier, an opposition leader said outside the Assembly that the state government had refused to table the report in the House.
“We were told that a bill would be tabled in both Houses of the Legislature which should be passed without discussion,” he said, on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, the Congress and NCP leaders were holding a meeting in the legislature party office of the Congress to decide their future course of action.
Notably, Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil, who heads the Cabinet sub-committee on the Maratha quota issue, had told reporters on Monday that the government will introduce a bill on Thursday to provide reservation to Marathas under the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) category before the end of the Legislature’s winter session.
The state Legislature’s winter session concludes on Friday.
Patil had said the Cabinet sub-committee was holding marathon meetings to ensure that the law to provide reservation to Marathas was scientific and within the legal and constitutional framework.
Even after the law is passed, the facilities provided to the Maratha community for employment and educational purpose since the last two years would stay, he said.
On whether the quota would be more or less than 16 per cent, as was given by the previous government but did not stand in court, Patil had said that the percentage was being worked out.
The Cabinet sub-committee was formed last week to study the State Backward Class Commission’s report on reservation for Marathas and take a decision on it.
The government had received the report on November 15 and it was placed before the Cabinet on November 18.
The commission’s recommendations were approved by the Cabinet and it was decided to form a sub-committee for further process.
Sanjay Sharma, the former Vice-President of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) held a Press Conference on Monday accusing Former Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, currently serving as the Chairman of MPCA of conspiring in the purchase of land for a Cricket Stadium in Gwalior. According to Sharma, Scindia and his assistors prepared a conspiracy that they will obtain the right to sell the land by way of Power of Attorney (in favour of their placed persons) from farmers by paying them prevailing price of land while thereafter, the POA holder will sell the land to MPCA at a higher price thus showing the higher amount as the registry cost- in turn, carving out money from BCCI.
Around 2010-11, the MPCA under the chairmanship of Scindia, had made a proposal for building a Cricket Stadium in Gwalior and obtained the approval of BCCI for the construction and also funding for development, including from purchase of land in Gwalior to development of all facilities, amenities and other related expenditures. As the funding for the purchase of land was approved by BCCI, thereby, BCCI was supposed to fund the cost of the land. Thus, with the intent to usurp large money from BCCI and make personal gain in the purchase of land by corrupt means, Scindia along with his special consultant Prashant Mehra (Retd. IAS) and other office bearers of the MPCA, prepared an illegal strategy to purchase the land from the farmers through an intermediary, Sharma added.
Sharma also informed that the MPCA had authorized its member-Dilip Chudgar, to purchase land in the pursuance of the conspiracy coined by Scindia, who purchased land of same locality at two different rates, i.e, the first registry executed directly from the farmers was prevailing rate i.e, Rs 20,00,00 per acre and secondly, the registry executed through POA holder, which was at Rs 1,00,00,000 per acre. He also added that upon receipt of the money, the same has been misappropriated immediately by Scindia in conspiracy with others at the cost of the future of cricket in the State of Madhya Pradesh, further resulting into injustice towards the innocent cricketers of the State.
Mumbai was paralysed with fear, 10 years ago with the petrifying terror attacks that took place on November 26, 2008; the Modi government declared this date as the Constitution Day (National Law Day), also known as Samvidhan Divas in 2015 by a gazette notification, celebrated every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. Now on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of 26/11, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi while mourning the incident at a rally in poll-bound Rajasthan’s Bhilwara did not miss out on the opportunity to take a dig at the Congress for its hypocrisy, stating that the party was allegedly busy in campaigning for the Rajasthan state elections during the attacks. However, the question arises that even after a decade, the Mumbai coastal lines were declared to have a tight security but it continues to be vulnerable, the perpetrators are yet to be caught and the theory behind the episode yet remains to be unfolded!
Pakistani mastermind, Hafiz Saeed, was linked with the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and its associated group, the Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) for the 2008 attacks and yet he continues to remain free with not even criminal charges against him. Saeed has been detained several times but mostly as house arrest, however, sooner or later, he was seen to be released and each time his outfit was banned, it re-emerges under a new name. It comes as a surprise that despite international pressure, he continues to enjoy the support of the Pakistani state and the country’s military. Also, it casts doubts as to what makes Saeed and his Jamaat-ud-Dawa so powerful? How is he able to get away with such serious charges, each time? Why, despite the threat of US sanctions, Pakistan has not been acting against him?
Immediately after Imran Khan sworn in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, it was observed that our Prime Minister Modi expressed India’s commitment to build good neighbourly relations between the two countries and pursue meaningful and constructive engagement for benefiting the people of the region. It is believed that it was a step to cajole Pakistan in the name of friendship to gain international benefits for the nation. Looking at the current scenario, it seems unclear as to what the immediate implications had been done so far for the same. Since the government claims India to be nuclear weapon power for almost two decades, yet it hasn’t been able to take any action against Pakistan!
Accusing Pakistanis as liars and defending his party, BJP spokesperson Prof. Suhas Pharande stated, “BJP is trying to get the masterminds behind the 26/11 terror attack. According to international law, it is very difficult to bring them into the country. Pakistani minds are very prejudiced towards India and we don’t trust Pakistan, be it the people, the President or the Prime Minister.”
Pakistan is already reeling from US President Donald Trump’s threat to sanction it for supporting militants. After the ban was lifted from Saeed’s organisation JuD and FiF, the United States in early November, asked Pakistan to enact a legislation to formally ban both organisations. The US also said that the removal of the ban would jeopardise Pakistan’s ability to meet its commitments to fight terrorism under the UN Security Council resolution, but no action has been taken yet.
In a statement at the end of the BRICS summit last year, the five major emerging powers, including China and Russia, have for the first time identified Pakistan-backed militant groups as a regional security threat.
Congress leader and former minister Raja Pateriya commented, “Both Congress and BJP governments have failed to keep their commitment. The international platform should protest against these communal forces such as extreme Hinduism, Christianism, Islamism, etc. and should work towards that.”
Pakistan has been under increasing pressure to cut all help given to terrorists operating from its soil. Even after entering the 10th year of the 26/11 attack, none of its seven suspects in Pakistan has been punished yet, showing that the case had never been in its priority list. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after handed down death sentence by an Indian court which created a major hype amongst the citizens across the nation.
The United States on Monday announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired, aided or abetted the 2008 Mumbai attack.
Hafiz Saeed sets up a 24-hour cyber cell to engineer terror attacks against India, reports claim that whenever Saeed visited Lahore, the cyber war against India was discussed on priority as a social media conference of the Cyber Team of Jamaat-ud-Dawah. Saeed runs the Lahore-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which he claims is a humanitarian charity. The JuD has been blacklisted by the US, which has described it as a foreign terrorist organisation. The UN declared Saeed as a terrorist in December 2008. Saeed is a major nuisance in the already strained relationship between India and Pakistan. There were reports that to make communication secure, terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had developed a mobile application to stay in touch with its operatives in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the intelligence inputs, Saeed has been repeatedly provoking terrorists against India and delivering ‘motivational’ speeches in the terrorist camps to engineer terror acts. Saeed, who orchestrated November 2008 Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people were killed, roams around freely in Pakistan despite being a designated terrorist. He is the brain behind many terror attacks in India, now he is preparing virtual attacks on cyberspace. The mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Hafiz Saeed is believed to have visited LeT camps and motivated recruits to kill Hindus and Indians. Advancing from terror attack, Saeed is now prepared for cyber attacks too. He has recruited youth to spread his propaganda online. Hope, the Indian government and its cyber experts take a note of it and get prepared to secure the Internet.
The 26/11 attack case has entered into the 10th year but none of its seven suspects in Pakistan has been punished yet, showing that the case had never been in its priority list. Another major terrorist attack in India of the magnitude similar to the 26/11 strike originating from Pakistan could easily escalate into a regional war, scholars, former diplomats, and the US officials have warned ahead of the 10th anniversary of the deadly Mumbai terror attack. More than 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the attack. Nine of the attackers were killed by the police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after handed down death sentence by an Indian court. It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after 10 years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement, in spite, we all knowing that who is the culprit and where the attack was planned. America like the strongest nation is announcing the third such cash reward made available by the Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program. The United States is committed to working with our international partners to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack.
Earlier, the department had announced a bounty of $10 million for the LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and $2 million for Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior leader of the group. Saeed has not faced trial in the case in Pakistan. Another prime accused in the case, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, is presently out on bail. The trial in the case in Pakistan hasn’t been completed even a decade after the attacks. All these three people are known to be in Pakistan and country like America just announcing bounties but Interpol failed to track them. The same American agency that killed Osama bin Laden, are finding it difficult to reach Saeed. In 2008, Pakistan’s promise of acting against the LeT and those involved in the Mumbai attack prevented escalation of India-Pakistan hostilities. The US also helped calm things down by sharing intelligence with both Pakistan and India.
Headley, who was arrested by the US authorities, confessed to them about his role in the 26/11 attacks in 2010. In 2013, a US court sentenced him to 35 years’ imprisonment for a dozen federal terrorism crimes related to his role in the Mumbai attacks. Headley is an American terrorist of Pakistani origin and a spy who conspired with the Lashkar-e-Taiba Islamist organisation and Pakistani intelligence officers in plotting the 2008 Mumbai attacks. America should actually interrogate Hadley to nab the propagators of the terror attack; just by announcing bounty neither America is doing any favour nor Pakistan by sheltering the terrorists. Pakistan should nab the culprits and bring them before the law. Killing is the most barbaric act; Pakistan should make a better image rather than being a rogue state. After the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, India submitted a formal request to the UN Security Council to put the group Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed on the list of individuals and organisations sanctioned by the United Nations for association with terrorism. India has accused the organisation and its leader, Hafiz of being virtually interchangeable with LeT. Hafiz Muhammad Saeed denied a link between LeT and JuD, just as a formality on December 11, 2008, Hafiz Saeed was placed under house arrest when the United Nations declared Jamaat-ud-Dawa to be a LeT front. But within a few months of time, the Lahore High Court deeming the containment to be unconstitutional ordered Hafiz Muhammad Saeed to be released. India quickly expressed its disappointment with the decision but didn’t do anything much to extradite him.
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Even though the RTI act is a useful tool beneficial to common man, attempts are being made by the government to dilute its provision, former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi accused. Gandhi further stated that in a real democracy, the real King and Queen are the common man and woman. A resolution to Congratulate Tukaram Munde and recently retired CIC Sridhar Acharyalu was put forth by RTI Activist Anil Galgali at the recently concluded conference.
The second annual conference of the RTI activist forum was inaugurated by Shailesh Gandhi at Bhupesh Gupta Bhavan, Prabhadevi. Present on the Occasion were Senior Social Activist Shivaji Raut, Social activist Anjali Damania, Suleman Buimani, Sudhir Paranjape, and Kamlakar Shenoy.
Presiding over the function, Shivaji Raut stated that detailed deliberations on various aspects have taken place now is the need to create Nationwide awareness in general public with an insistence on the implementation of the provisions of the RTI Act. Shailesh Gandhi also raised the question about the sincerity of the government. Anjali Damania stressed upon the need to follow up upon the information obtained under RTI and also give information on how to obtain land records and various websites where such information is made available. Galgali provided information with regards to the provision under Delay in Service Act 2005. He also emphasised the need to make written complaints so that authorities can get used to providing a timely response. In case of delays, he urged the applicants to invoke provisions under delaying the information.
Banking expert Vishwas Utgi highlighted the looting of banks and double standards of the government in this regard he also stressed to create awareness at district level amongst the civil society. Former Assistant Police Commissioner Vilas Tupe recounted the various anti-corruption cases that he dealt with and informed the participants about the process to get help with corruption-related matters. Suleman Bhimani spoke on the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme related grievances and their resolution process. Kamlakar Shenoy provided information as to how a formal police complaint can be registered. Sudhir Paranjape spoke on the Right to Education and provisions for the economically weaker sections and means to obtain benefits thereunder.
The mood at the wreath-laying ceremony for 26/11 martyrs was sombre as policemen remembered their fallen comrades and family members of victims sought in vain to set aside their tears, 10 years after the worst-ever terror attack in India’s history.
At an early morning, solemn ceremony at Mumbai’s 26/11 martyrs’ memorial at Police Gymkhana on the Arabian Sea coast, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis laid wreaths as a police band paid their musical tribute at the ‘Salutation Ceremony’.
Tributes were also paid at the memorial of assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale at Girgaum Chowpatty, a short distance away. It was at this spot that Ombale caught Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab alive while getting killed himself.
On November 26, 2008, Mumbai was attacked by 10 terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. In the mayhem that followed for the next three days, 166 people including 18 police officers and two NSG commandos were killed while 308 people were injured.
The then Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar were among those killed in the attack.
Salaskar’s daughter Divya said nothing could make up for the loss of her brave-heart father. “Ten years on, the pain is very much the same. When you lose a loved one like a father or a husband, there is nothing to compensate for that kind of loss,” she said.
Maharashtra Police Chief Datta Padsalgikar and Mumbai Commissioner of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal also attended the ceremony along with family members of policemen who lost their lives during the attacks, which began on November 26 and lasted till November 29.
“I pay homage to the brave policemen who fought for Mumbai’s safety and laid down their lives for us on 26/11. We are proud of them and we will strive hard for the safety and security of our state,” Fadnavis said.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital and the Nariman House Jewish community centre, now renamed Nariman Light House, were among the places targeted by the terrorists.
Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive. He was hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.
“Remembering those who put the nation before themselves. And our salute to the city whose resilience always made its people stronger,” Mumbai Police tweeted.
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, said the Ram Pradhan committee, set up to probe the shortcomings that led to the attack recommended setting up of a protocol under an internal security committee but it is yet to be prepared.”
“The internal security committee has never met in the past four years since the BJP-led government came to power in the state,” he said.
“Coastal police stations were announced by the state government, but nothing has been done about them,” he said, adding coastal policing should be a top priority.
