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US slaps sanctions on Taliban, Iranian supporters

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The US Treasury announced on Tuesday that it has imposed sanctions on eight individuals, including two associated with Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — Qods Force (IRGC-QF), in an effort to hit Afghanistan’s Taliban militants.

The Treasury accused the designated Taliban members of engaging in suicide attacks and other activities in Afghanistan and blamed the Iranians for providing financial and material support for the Taliban, Xinhau reported.

USTreasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin claimed in a statement that Iran was “exploiting Afghanistan to further their destabilizing behaviour”.

Mnuchin is on a week-long trip to the Middle East with talks on combating terrorist financing and looming Iran sanctions.

Also on Tuesday, the other member nations of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Centre (TFTC), all US Gulf allies, also imposed Taliban-related sanctions.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain announced Tuesday to add Iran’s IRGC to the list of terror-related individuals and organisations, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Washington has intensified its sanctions against Iranian entities and individuals after President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the Iran nuclear deal in May, a move that has been widely criticized by the international community.

New US sanctions on Iran’s oil exports are set to kick in on November 4.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country will manage to abort anti-Iran sanctions by the United States, Press TV reported on Monday.

The TFTC, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, was formed in May 2017 and inaugurated by the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Trump on the sidelines of the Arab-Islamic-American Summit last year.

IANS

ED chargesheets Sandesara brothers in Rs 8,100-cr loan fraud

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The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday filed chargesheet under the anti-money laundering law against Sandesara brothers and their Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company Sterling Biotech Limited (SBL) in the fraudulent Rs 8,100-crore loan from domestic as well as offshore branches of Indian banks during 2004-2012.

The ED named 191 accused and 184 companies of the SBL group in the chargesheet filed in a special court. The SBL group include Sterling Biotech Limited, PMT Machines Limited, Sterling SEZ and Infra Limited, Sterling Port Limited, Sterling Oil Resources Limited and 179 shell companies.

Some individuals named in the chargesheet include main promoters of SBL group — Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara and Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara — Dipti Sandesara, Rajbhushan Dixit, Hitesh Patel, their chartered accountant Hemant Hathi and middlemen Gagan Dhawan.

The agency said the investigation in this case is still on as Sandesara brothers are learnt to be in abroad.

Action under Fugitive Economic Offenders Law shall be initiated soon against the Sandesara brothers and Red Corner Notice with respect to promoters shall also be issued, said the ED which registered a money laundering case against the SBL group, Sandesara brothers and others in August 2017, days after a case of alleged bank fraud of Rs 5,700 crore was filed against them by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Investigation in ED revealed that Sandesaras brothers and others hatched a criminal conspiracy for cheating banks by manipulating figures in the balance sheets of their flagship companies and induced banks to sanction higher loans.

“After obtaining loans, the accused diverted the loan funds to non-mandated purposes through a web of shell companies. Thus, the loan funds were diverted, layered and laundered by the promoters for their personal purposes. Total amount of loan fraud as on date is Rs 8,100 crore. The loan fraud pertains to domestic as well as offshore branches of Indian banks,” said an ED statement.

Loans to the tune of Rs 5,700 crore was disbursed by various banks during the years 2004-2012 and Look Out Circulars were opened against the accused in August, 2017, said the statement.

“To fulfil their criminal motive of defrauding banks, the promoters devised a multi layered strategy of cheating. They not only cheated banks but also revenue department as well as the share-holders. Their strategy included incorporation of shell companies, conducting circular transactions to artificially inflate turnover of flagship companies, claiming higher depreciations on non-existing machinery, artificial share trading with the use shell companies, layering and laundering of proceeds of crime within India and abroad through the web of shell companies.”

The promoters used their employees’ names and got incorporated 249 shell companies, said the ED, adding the ill gotten money were knowingly rotated, layered and finally integrated into the financial system and projected as untainted.

“The amount was further invested in the form of immovable properties. The loan funds were diverted for non-mandated purposes to shell companies and were withdrawn as cash. An amount of Rs 140 crore was withdrawn from shell companies and were used for the personal purposes of the promoters which also includes bribing of public officials,” said the statement.

The ED said the promoters created a web of corporate and accounting structure abroad and they incorporated more than 100 entities in various countries including United Arab Emirates, the US, the UK, British Virgin Island, Mauritius, Barbados and Nigeria.

“Their main entities outside India includes Richmond Overseas, Sunshine Trust Corporation, SEEPCO BVI, SEEPCO Nigeria and Atlantic Blue Water Services Pvt Ltd. It is revealed during investigation that the funds were rotated through various structures and ultimately carried to Nigeria to finance their oil business,” said the ED.

The banks have also found that the sanctioned loans were not used for the laid down purposes but were diverted for non-mandated purposes.

The ED said the banks have also declared the loans to the tune of Rs 8,100 crores as fraud (domestic loans Rs 3,675 crore and foreign loans
Rs 4,425 crore) as on date.

The ED said it has so far arrested four persons in the case including a Delhi-based business man-cum-middleman Gagan Dhawan, Ex-Director of Andhra Bank Anup Garg, Director of SBL R.B. Dixit and Ranjeet Malik, a front man of Dhawan.

Besides, the ED has so far attached assets to the tune of Rs 4,710 crore in the case.

 

IANS

Karnataka’s tax collection up 11% in 6 months reaches Rs 75634 crore

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Karnataka’s tax collection went up 11 per cent in six months from April to September to Rs 75,634-crore, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday.

“Taxes to the tune of Rs 75,634-crore were collected till the end of September, which is 11 per cent more than the same period of the previous fiscal,” Kumaraswamy told reporters here on the occasion of the Janata-Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress coalition government completing 150 days in office.

After forming a post-poll alliance with Congress, JD-S leader Kumaraswamy took the chief minister’s office on May 23, and presented his maiden budget on July 5, as he also holds the finance portfolio.

However, a total of 38 per cent budget expenditure was made by the coalition government during its term so far, of the state’s estimated total expenditure of Rs 2,18,488-crore for the fiscal 2018-19.

The Chief Minister claimed that the coalition government, which had committed to waiving farm loans to the tune of Rs 43,448-crore from state-run nationalised banks and state co-operative banks, has also begun the process of obtaining the details of the loans obtained by 10 lakh farmers.

“Information will be obtained from farmers as well. Loan details obtained will be verified with the data,” he added.

The loan waiver will not affect other programmes as the state government has alternative resource mobilisation mechanism, the Chief Minister asserted.

Ordinance on the Debt Relief Act-2018 is awaiting President Ram Nath Kovind’s approval, he said.

The Debt Relief Act-2018 has been formulated to protect interests of small farmers, agricultural labourers, small vendors and the poor from being harassed by money lenders.

“The President as well as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh were briefed about the provisions of the Act and were requested to approve it,” Kumaraswamy said.

After the state’s Kodagu district was affected by floods in August, the state has released Rs 127-crore so far for rehab works in the district, he stated.

The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund has received Rs 187.16-crore donations from public for the flood-hit district’s relief so far. Bengaluru-based Infosys Foundation had contributed Rs 25-crore aid to the district, Kumaraswamy said.

“Kodagu Reconstruction Authority is being formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to rebuild houses,” he added.

Initiatives have also been taken by the state to provide scholarships online to 56.69 lakh students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other backward classes, the Chief Minister said.

IANS

Nokia, BSNL to explore public safety initiatives in India

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Telecom equipment maker Nokia and public sector telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore opportunities in the public safety arena in the country.

Under the agreement, Nokia will become BSNL’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) technology partner for public safety projects.

The collaboration will assist in advancing public safety standards in the country and supports the government’s Smart Cities Mission.

“As a trusted telecom service provider, BSNL is committed to providing the best technology solutions for public safety professionals. Our technology partnership with Nokia is a crucial step in this direction,” Anupam Srivastava, Chairman and Managing Director at BSNL, said in a statement.

A reliable and robust LTE public safety system is often critical during disaster situations as it can aid public safety workers in relief and rescue efforts.

Leveraging the Nokia ViTrust critical communications portfolio, in particular, the Nokia Ultra Compact Network, Nokia and BSNL will explore solutions that help first responders to more swiftly locate people and assist affected communities, the statement said.

The Nokia Ultra Compact Network (UCN) is a portable solution that allows first responders to set up a reliable mission-critical mobile broadband network in minutes.

By establishing a LTE network, the first responders can securely transmit large images and videos in real-time to other workers and command centres, providing vital insight into a situation to aid public safety and rescue efforts.

“This is the first time our public safety solution will be used in India, and we are excited to leverage our ViTrust critical communications portfolio, working with BSNL to enhance public safety work and aid vital rescue operations,” said J.P. Singh, head of Nokia’s customer team for government business in India.

Nokia and BSNL will also explore public safety opportunities for various industry segments including Smart City deployment, border-related activities and mines and quarries in remote areas with limited connectivity.

In addition, they will establish a mission-critical government network, allowing ministers and other officials to communicate securely across the country.

The companies will also work with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to help them leverage the benefits of LTE technology in public safety communications systems.

 

IANS

Vijayan blames sangh for creating Sabarimala mess

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday accused the ‘sangh parivar’ and its associates of turning the Sabarimala temple into a conflict zone and vowed to implement the Supreme Court order in the next long-season pilgrimage starting in November.

He also slammed the temple tantri and the Pandalam royal family for claiming rights and powers over the Lord Ayyappa shrine that they do not possess.

The Chief Minister, who was abroad when the temple opened for the five-day monthly pujas on October 17, broke his silence over the temple unrest before the media here.

A dozen women in the hitherto barred age group of 10 to 50 were stopped during the five-day brief season far away from the hilltop temple which opened for the first time following the Supreme Court’s September 28 landmark verdict allowing all women inside the temple breaking centuries old tradition.

“Even before the temple opened, the sangh parivar forces had their plans laid out. The government never stopped any devotee at all. Instead, it provided all support as it is its constitutional responsibility to see that the apex court verdict is adhered to,” Vijayan said.

He said Sabarimala is a religious institution and peace and tranquillity has to be preserved but the sangh parivar forces “took over”.

“Their agenda was to convert Sabarimala into a conflict zone and we will ensure that at the upcoming festival season (the two-month-long season that begins on November 17), the government would do everything possible to abide by the top court’s order.

He said it would be ensured that during that period no devotee would be allowed to stay there beyond a particular time.

A Tirupati model system of managing the devotees would be put into force, Vijayan added.

He also slammed the tantri (chief priest), who had at the height of the conflict threatened to close the temple even as the police tried to escort women for the prayers.

“It was a needless statement from the tantri because the right to open and close the temple vests with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).

“The protest by the temple employees was also wrong as both the tantri and the employees all come under the TDB and they should not forget it,” said Vijayan.

Taking on the Pandalam royal family and its claims that they have the rights to the temple, Vijayan said they were staking claims on things which they cannot.

“The Sabarimala temple is the property of the TDB and none else have any rights over it. According to the 1949 Covenant things are written very clearly and it says that the Sabarimala temple ownership was handed over to the TDB after the royal family had serious financial problems.

“Today they just conduct ritualistic activities of the temple and that they can continue to do,” said Vijayan.

But state BJP president P.S.Sreedharan Pillai, responding to the Vijayan’s statement on the Sabarimala temple issue, said that he felt sorry for Vijayan.

“Do not know what has happened to Vijayan as he appears to have lost his balance when he said that the tantri is an employee of the TDB. It’s for a government employee that there is a code of conduct and the tantri does not take a single rupee as salary. The tantri does not fall under the employee category . It was just because of the adamant stand of Vijayan, that things reached so low. He has proved to be an abject failure,” said Pillai.

Sreekumar Varma of the Pandalam royal family said he was extremely delighted that the will of Lord Ayyappa has prevailed even when several attempts to send women to the temple failed.

“I take this opportunity to thank all the devotees who stood their ground to protect the temple and its traditions despite several attempts to defame the temple was taking place.

“I do not recall any amendments being made with regards to the tantri and their rights and responsibilities. To the best of my knowledge it remains the same as it was before. About the statements against our family, I will study in detail what was said by him (Vijayan) and will react tomorrow,” said Varma.

Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala told the media in Kozhikode that it was most unfortunate that the state government was trying to aggravate issues over Sabarimala .

“The BJP here should march to the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not mislead people here. Only through a Constitutional amendment can one get around the present apex court verdict,” he said.

IANS

#MeToo : Karnataka film chambers to mediate meeting between Sruthi Hariharan, Arjun Sarja

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The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) on 22 October said it would mediate and hold a reconciliation meeting between Kannada actress Sruthi Hariharan and actor Arjun Sarja, who she had accused of sexually harassment.

“The members of KFCC has met over the sexual harassment allegations. We will soon hold a meeting between Arjun and Sruthi to resolve the issue,” KFCC president SA Chinne Gowda told reporters after the film body’s meeting. The film association will address all the sexual harassment complaints that are brought to its notice, Gowda said.

The 29-year-old actress shared in a Facebook post that the 54-year-old multi-lingual south Indian actor had sexually harassed her on the sets of a film in 2016. “During a (film) rehearsal, we delivered our lines and Mr Arjun hugs me. With no forewarning or permission, he runs his hands intimately up and down my back. He pulls me closer with my body taut against his and asks the director if we could use this idea of foreplay in the scene,” the actress had stated in her post.

Former KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu, however, asked why it took the actress two years to raise the issue. “Sruthi should have brought the incident to our attention long ago,” Govindu said. Earlier in the day, Arjun’s father-in-law and senior Kannada actor Rajesh had lodged a complaint against the actress with the KFCC for defaming the actor (Arjun). A few women also staged a protest in front of the film chamber’s office in the city centre during the day, demanding a “ban” on Sruthi in the Kannada film industry.

Arjun, popularly known as ‘Action King’ and acted in over 150 movies across Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages, had, however, dismissed the allegations as “false”. The actor had said he would soon file a defamation suit against Sruthi.

Bengaluru-based Sruthi, who has acted in several Kannada and Malayalam films since 2012, had said the incident left her “aghast” and that she could not raise the issue when it happened as there was no internal complaints committee in the film industry. The ongoing #MeToo movement has given her courage to speak up, the actress said addressing media.

Several Kannada actors and directors have also expressed their support to the actress.

PTI

Sabarimala temple closed.The doors will open Nov 17

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Sabarimala doors shut, SC order makes no difference to women’s right to pray
The doors to Sabarimala temple closed Monday night, six days after opening for the first time since the Supreme Court lifted the ban on entry of women of menstruating age.
The doors of the shrine will open on November 17 for the three-month-long Mandalam Makaravilakku celebrations.
The doors to Sabarimala temple closed Monday night, six days after opening for the first time since the Supreme Court lifted the ban on entry of women of menstruating age, but climbing the 18 “sacred steps” leading to the sanctum sanctorum proved a tall order for them. Valiant attempts by around a dozen women, including activists and journalists in the 10-50 years age group to script history came to nought as frenzied devotees of Lord Ayyappa, the eternally celibate deity, heckled and hassled them and forced them to retreat. Yet another woman in the “barred” age group made a futile attempt Monday to reach Sabarimala but was turned back by agitated protesters.

Bindu, a Dalit activist, who was proceeding to Pamba at the foothills of Sabarimala temple from where devotees undertake an arduous 5 km trek to the shrine, was given police protection at her request, officials said. However, when the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus she was travelling on with police personnel was about to reach Pamba, a group of BJP workers and those opposing the entry of girls and women aged between 10 and 50 years into the temple, blocked the road and forced her to alight. She was then escorted to safety in a police jeep, officials said.

‘Melsanti’ or the head priest and other priests stood on both sides of the idol of Lord Ayyappa and recited divine song “Harivarasanam” and began putting off the lamps in the sanctum sanctorum halfway down the rendition. As the last line was sung, the doors were closed and locked, shutting out, at least for the time being, spirited women of menstruating age from offering prayers to the deity. The iron gates to the shrine were opened on Wednesday and every day since then women of the “barred” age group made brave but futile attempts to enter the shrine. Six women were prevented from entering the temple Sunday alone.

Kerala women’s rights activist Rehana Fathima and Hyderabad journalist Kavitha Jakkal, wearing helmets and khaki, and surrounded by a police contingent, could manage to go up to Valiya Nadappandhal, the queue complex located a few metres away from the holy ‘pathinettam padi’, the 18 sacred steps, but not beyond. Several people, including journalists, were injured on Wednesday as police cracked down on protesters who were up in arms against Kerala’s Left Front government for its decision to enforce the Supreme Court order.

Hindu fringe groups called a strike the next day and both the Congress, the main opposition party in Kerala, and the BJP, which is desperately seeking to expand its footprint in the state, lent support to the agitation. Meanwhile, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages Sabarimala temple, is meeting on Tuesday to discuss how to make an intervention in the Supreme Court while protecting the “interest of devotees”.

“The TDB has the legal responsibility to protect the interest of devotees. We also have to look at the rituals and customs of the temple. The board will make its intervention in Supreme Court without harming this,” its chief A Padmakumar told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. He said the meeting would decide the “nature” of the report to be submitted to the apex court. The Supreme Court Monday said it would decide tomorrow as to when the petitions seeking a review of its Sabarimala verdict will be listed for hearing. In all, 19 review petitions are pending before it for hearing.

The state’s Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran welcomed the TDB’s decision to approach the Supreme Court with a comprehensive report about the recent developments in Sabarimala. “It’s a good decision…the TDB’s move is to bring to the notice of the Supreme Court the difficulties faced by the real devotees,” Surendran said. He conceded that the LDF government was caught between the “devil and the deep sea” while executing the apex court order.

The Congress-led UDF has decided to hold a series of foot marches, vehicle rallies and meetings across the state to explain to people its stand on the issue and “expose” the ruling CPI(M) and BJP’s “hidden agenda”. The temple will open briefly on November 5 evening for the next day’s ‘Chithira Attavisesham’ to celebrate the birth anniversary of Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the last king of Travancore.

The doors of the shrine will open on November 17 for the three-month-long Mandalam Makaravilakku celebrations when lakhs of devotees from the country and abroad visit the place every year. If the Supreme Court does not stay or overturn its own verdict by then, enforcing its historic order may prove to be a daunting task for the Kerala government.

Campaigning heats up for bye-polls in K’taka,

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A dozen ministers and leaders of the ruling Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) coalition government on Monday jointly launched their campaign for the five by-elections in Karnataka on November 3.

With Dussehra holidays ending on Sunday, senior leaders and ministers of the both the parties have fanned out in the three Lok Sabha and two assembly segments to campaign for the joint candidates, a Congress official told IANS in Bengaluru.

The three parliamentary seats are Ballari (reserved), Mandya and Shimoga while the two Assembly seats are Jamkhandi in Bagalkote district and Ramanagara near Bengaluru.

Former Congress Chief Minister and party leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah addressed public meetings and participated in rallies in Ballari for its candidate V.S. Ugrappa, a senior legislator in the legislative council.

In Jamkhandi, Deputy Chief Minister G. Paramehswara campaigned for Congress candidate Anand Siddu, son of Siddu Nyamagouda, whose death in a road accident on May 28 necessitated the by-election.

“We are confident of winning in all the five seats as our alliance partners have fielded joint candidates to prevent division of secular votes and defeat the BJP at any cost,” said a Congress leader.

In the Shimoga contest, the party’s state unit president Dinesh Gundu Rao and Revenue Minister R.V. Deshpande participated in the campaign for JD-S contestant Madhu Bangarappa.

“We have joined hands to keep communal forces out; both at the Centre and state levels. We will be successful,” asserted Parameshwara.

In Mandya and Ramanagara, where JD-S candidates are in the fray, district leaders and cadres campaigned and held roadside meetings and went on door-to-door canvassing.

L.R. Shivarama Gowda is the JD-S contestant in Mandya.

In Ramanagara, JD-S contestant Anitha, wife of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, will campaign from Tuesday.

For the BJP, party’s state unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa, K.S. Eshwarappa, C.T. Ravi and Shobha Karandlaje campaigned in Shimoga where the former’s son B.Y. Raghavendra is contesting.

BJP’s legislator B. Sriramulu campaigned for his sister and party’s contestant B. Shanta in Ballari (Scheduled Tribe).

BJP’s candidates are Siddaramaiah from Mandya, Srikant Kulkarni from Jamkhandi and L. Chandrashekar from Ramanagara.

Besides candidates of the three main parties, about 30 independents are in the fray in all the five seats.

Vote count will be held on November 6.

IANS

Former PM HD Deve Gowda to be honoured with Maharishi Valmiki Award

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The award will be given out on the occasion of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, which will be held at the Vidhana Soudha on October 24.

The Maharishi Valmiki Award for 2018-19 has been conferred on former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda for his work in uplifting SC/ ST communities, the Karnataka government led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, HD Deve Gowda’s son, said on Tuesday. The announcement was made by Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge who met the veteran politician at his Padmanabha Nagar residence to invite him to accept the award. The state government’s decision was based on the recommendation by a government-appointed committee led by retired Karnataka High Court Judge Justice HN Nagamohan Das.
The award will be given out on the occasion of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, which will be held at Banquet Hall of the Vidhana Soudha on October 24. The state government celebrates the day to honour the legendary Sanskrit poet and author of the Ramayana. He is also worshiped by the Valimiki community, which is said to be one of the largest ethnic group in the state.

HD Deve Gowda, a former freedom fighter and a Congress man became the 11th Prime Minister of India in June 1996 and held his position till April 1997. Prior to this, he was the 14th Chief Minister of Karnataka. He is currently a member of Lok Sabha from Hassan constituency and is the national president of the Janata Dal (Secular), the party he founded after breaking away from the erstwhile Janata Dal.

In his long political career he has also held the role of the Leader of the Rajya Sajbha and was elected as the MLA seven times.

In 2017, then-CM Siddaramaiah unveiled the bust of Valmiki at Vidhana Soudha on October 5 to mark the occasion and announced multiple social welfare schemes. Former Minister Thippeswamy, who was part of the erstwhile Janata Dal government, was given the award which comes with a citation and cheque for Rs 5 lakh.

The celebration of Valmiki Jayanti in Karnataka was initiated by Leader of Opposition BS Yeddyurappa during his tenure as the Chief Minister in 2008. The day is also celebrated across districts and is also a state government holiday.

Kerala CM expects over Rs 700 crore from UAE

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Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed the hope that the state would get an assistance which would be much bigger than the amount offered by the Emirates government earlier.

“It was no secret that the UAE government had offered Rs 700 crore which could not materialise because of various reasons. We will receive a much bigger amount. This was evident from the overwhelming response of the diaspora and the UAE administration,” he told reporters here after his five-day visit to the UAE.

He said the visit to the UAE was an opportunity to understand directly the love, affection and concern that the NRKs have for their brethren. “We met the representatives of UAE’s three prominent charitable and humanitarian foundations and held detailed discussions with them,” he said.

UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s brother and chairman of Emirates Red Crescent, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, praised the contributions of the Indian community to the development process witnessed by the country. He expressed the readiness of the UAE Red Crescent Authority to provide all kinds of support to Kerala and its people. It is one of the biggest charitable societies in the world. The Red Crescent had extended help during the floods, he said.

The Kerala delegation held a meeting with the representatives of Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation which was formed in memory of the Father of UAE, Zayed bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The chairman of the foundation, Sheikh Nahyan bin Sayed Al Nahyan, led the discussions. “They sought detailed information on our rebuilding plan. A high-level delegation of officials will visit Kerala to hold further discussion. They have promised all assistance,” he said.

The meeting with Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation vice-chairman Ibrahim Mohammed Ahmed BuMelha was fruitful. This foundation had sent relief materials soon after the floods.

He said the visit to the UAE was an opportunity to understand directly the love, affection and concern that the NRKs have for their brethren. “We met the representatives of UAE’s three prominent charitable and humanitarian foundations and held detailed discussions with them,” he said.

UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s brother and chairman of Emirates Red Crescent, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, praised the contributions of the Indian community to the development process witnessed by the country. He expressed the readiness of the UAE Red Crescent Authority to provide all kinds of support to Kerala and its people. It is one of the biggest charitable societies in the world. The Red Crescent had extended help during the floods, he said.

The Kerala delegation held a meeting with the representatives of Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation which was formed in memory of the Father of UAE, Zayed bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The chairman of the foundation, Sheikh Nahyan bin Sayed Al Nahyan, led the discussions. “They sought detailed information on our rebuilding plan. A high-level delegation of officials will visit Kerala to hold further discussion. They have promised all assistance,” he said.

The meeting with Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation vice-chairman Ibrahim Mohammed Ahmed BuMelha was fruitful. This foundation had sent relief materials soon after the floods.

“They have assured of all help, especially in the housing sector,” he said.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, who heads the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Culture, Youth and Social Development, assured assistance for rebuilding Kerala. “It was the affection shown by him that prompted me to say at a public meeting that his words were worth over 100 million dollars for the people of Kerala,” the chief minister said.

Mohammad Abdulla Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, came to his office on Friday which was a holiday, to meet the state’s delegation. This indicated their government’s affection towards Kerala, he said.

The Kerala delegation met Crown Prince and Chairman of Mubadala Investment Company, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, and other senior functionaries. They evinced interest in investing in petrochemicals, defence park, life science park, food processing centre, aviation industry and agriculture sector. Mubadala has a clear perception about the investment-friendly policy of the state government. A high-level delegation of the company will visit the state soon to discuss the common areas of interest.

DP World evinced interest in joint venture with the state government in logistics park, industrial park and related sectors. They are particularly interested in the inland water transport project.

DP World also was keen on Thiruvananthapuram – Kasargod water way. They are ready to construct small ports for carrying freight. A high-level delegation of DP World will visit the state soon to carry forward the discussions. Dubai Holdings, the promoters of Kerala SmartCity project, have also assured all assistance for rebuilding the state, he said.

‘No going back on Sabarimala’

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said there is no going back on SC verdict on Sabarimala. He said the government intends to implement the verdict in letter and spirit. “At a time when women are getting ready to go to Mars, they are being denied entry into a temple.”

IANS

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