BJP leaders have reacted strongly to the statement of chief minister (CM), Kumaraswamy, that BJP is utilizing the services of kingpins to destabilize the coalition government in the state.

BJP leaders said that both intelligence department and anti corruption bureau function under the CM. Therefore, they have sought from him the names of the so-called kingpins. They have urged the CM not to employ hit-and-run tactics. Kumaraswamy has also been warned of legal action.

Speaking in the city on Friday separately, general secretary of the party and MP, Shobha Karandlaje, former deputy chief minister, R Ashok, and state general secretary, Aravind Limbavali, tackled the chief minister for his statement which they feel was unjustified.

Shobha Karandlaje, who advised the CM not to adopt hit-and-run tactics, asked him to utilize the services of intelligence department to get information. She said that Kumaraswamy is accusing BJP for the lack of coordination between the coalition partners, Congress and JD(S). She asked him not to make allegations against BJP to cover up for his own follies.

Ashok challenged the CM to reveal the names of the kingpins. He guessed that the kingpin the CM is referring to might be former CM, Siddaramaiah as the government had faced hiccups when he went to Dharmasthala. He pointed out that the government is on tenterhooks again when Siddaramaiah is away on Europe tour.

Aravind Limbavali blamed the CM of making unsubstantiated allegations against BJP instead of gearing up the administration to meet the challenges created by excessive rains. “The chief minister should behave himself and maintain the dignity of his position. You are in charge of administration. If someone has hoarded money, you have the right of conducting raids,” he commented.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that he will not attend the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) meet scheduled to be held here from Monday.

“I don’t have much knowledge about RSS. I have only read on what made Sardar Patel ban the RSS and after reading that paragraph I don’t have the courage to attend the meet,” said the Samajwadi Party President while attending the ‘India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit’ event.

“I always insist that each one should at least read about those matters which were banned by Sardar Patel. It will ensure that whatever he had said that time, the situation remains same even today,” he added.

The RSS will organise a three-day lecture series ‘Future of Bharat: An RSS perspective’ with its chief Mohan Bhagwat at Vigyan Bhavan here.

(IANS)

Five militants were killed on Saturday in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, police said.

Upon receiving a tip-off about the presence of militants, the security forces on Friday night cordoned off Chowgam village of Qazigund area and launched a search operation.

According to the police, there were no casualties on the security forces side.

Meanwhile, clashes broke out between civilian protesters and the security forces at the gunfight site, the police said.

Two protesters sustained firearm injuries.

Train services between Srinagar and the Bannihal town that passes through Qazigund area have been suspended.

Mobile internet services have also been suspended in Kulgam.

(IANS)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused former CBI Joint Director A.K.Sharma, who is also a former Gujarat IPS officer, of helping fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya to escape from the country.

He said Sharma, who was in the CBI in 2015, was also “in charge of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi’s escape plans”.

The Congress President also alleged that Sharma is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “blue-eyed-boy” in the CBI.

“CBI Joint Director A.K. Sharma, weakened Mallya’s “Look Out” notice, allowing Mallya to escape. Mr Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer, is the PM’s blue-eyed-boy in the CBI. The same officer was in charge of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi’s escape plans. Ooops…investigation!” Gandhi tweeted.

Earlier this week, he had accused Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of “colluding” with Mallya to help him flee the country and demanded his resignation.

Gandhi had asked why had Jaitley not informed the investigative agencies about his meeting with the chief of now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

Mallya, who left India on March 2, 2016, faces charges of defrauding banks to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore.

(IANS)

Afghanistan on Saturday invited Indian businesses to invest in its agriculture sector, promising to roll out great opportunities in the fields of manufacturing, processing, packaging and marketing of farm products.

Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture Naseer Ahmed Durrani said that the country’s farm production and exports were growing and urged Indian businesses to explore investment opportunities available there.

He was speaking during the conclusion of a four-day long exhibition and conference “Passage to Prosperity: India-Afghanistan International Trade & Investment Show”, organised by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the governments of India and Afghanistan, here.

Durrani informed that agriculture, farming and livestock forms the backbone of Afghanistan’s economy contributing 25 per cent to its GDP and involving around 80 per cent of the population.

“Rebuilding trade relationships and expanding export markets for Afghan products are critical for Afghanistan’s job creation, capital flows and overall stability, and we are looking for potential investors in these areas,” said Durrani.

He said that Afghanistan’s agriculture exports were growing and expected to increase by nearly one-third or 30 per cent this year, to touch $260 million, up from $200 million last year.

“We export dry fruits, fresh fruits and nuts to India, which is now increasing with the opening of the air corridors between Kabul-New Delhi, Kabul-Mumbai. Traditionally, the top destinations for Afghanistan exports are Pakistan and India, followed by China, Iran and Turkey,” added Durrani.

The Minister said Afghan products like apples, grapes, apricots, pomegranates and raisins were very popular in India and continue to be a staple of Indian hospitality and diet.

With increased capacity of Afghan producers and exporters to deliver the freshest of produce to the markets, these quality products are once again finding their way onto supermarket shelves, he pointed out.

The current bilateral trade between India-Afghanistan is $900 million and expected to touch $2 billion by 2020, he said.

At the four-day show in Mumbai, more than 50 top agriculture exporters and another 150 businessmen from Afghanistan participated to showcase their finest high-value agro-products and explore business ventures with 1,200 Indian and global 100 counterparts.

At the first event held in New Delhi last year, Indian and Afghan businessmen signed contracts totaling over $27 million for raw and processed agriculture products, besides agreements worth $214 million.

(IANS)