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Sushma Swaraj condoles demise of Sharif’s wife

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday condoled the death of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of now-jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

“I am sorry to know about the sad demise of Kulsoom Nawaz. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. May her soul rest in peace,” Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

Sushma Swaraj is known to have been personally close to the Sharif family. In the Heart of Asia Summit in 2015 in Pakistan, she met the four generations of the Sharif family.

Kulsoom Nawaz passed away in a hospital in London on Tuesday after battling with cancer for months, the family said.

She is survived by her husband and four grown-up children — Hassan, Hussain, Maryam and Asma.

Nawaz Shairf and Maryam are currently serving a jail sentence at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for corruption.

(IANS)

RBI submitted a list of high profile fraud cases to Prime minister office

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A list of high profile cases related to banking frauds was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for a coordinated action, said former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan in a note to Parliamentary panel.

In the note to Chairman of Estimates Committee Murli Manohar Joshi, Rajan said that the size of frauds in the public sector banking system has been increasing, though still small relative to the overall volume of NPAs.

“The RBI set up a fraud monitoring cell when I was Governor to coordinate the early reporting of fraud cases to the investigative agencies. I also sent a list of high profile cases to the PMO urging that we coordinate action to bring at least one or two to book. I am not aware of progress on this front. This is a matter that should be addressed with urgency,” he said.

Rajan, who was RBI governor for three years till September 2016, is currently teaching at the Chicago Booth School of Business. Noting that system has been singularly ineffective in bringing even a single high profile fraudster to book, he said, frauds are different from normal non-performing assets (NPAs).

“The investigative agencies blame the banks for labelling frauds much after the fraud has actually taken place, the bankers are slow because they know that once they call a transaction a fraud, they will be subject to harassment by the investigative agencies, without substantial progress in catching the crooks,” he said.

The statement assumes significance in the light of Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, in connivance with certain bank officials, allegedly cheated PNB of about Rs 14,000 crore through issuance of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs).

A Mumbai branch of PNB had fraudulently issued LoUs for the group of companies belonging to Nirav Modi since March 2011. The total number of LoUs issued to the companies of Nirav Modi, his relatives and the Nirav Modi Group are 1,213, and to Mehul Choksi, his relatives and the Gitanjali Group are 377.

On whether the regulator could have done better, Rajan said it is hard to offer an objective self-assessment but the RBI should probably have raised more flags about the quality of lending in the early days of banking exuberance.

“With the benefit of hindsight, we should probably not have agreed to forbearance, though without the tools to clean up, it is not clear what the banks would have done. Forbearance was a bet that growth would revive, and projects would come back on track.

“That it did not work out does not mean that it was not the right decision at the time it was initiated. Also, we should have initiated the new tools earlier, and pushed for a more rapid enactment of the Bankruptcy Code. If so, we could have started the AQR (asset quality review) process earlier,” he said.

Finally, he said, the RBI could have been more decisive in enforcing penalties on non-compliant banks. “Fortunately, this culture of leniency has been changing in recent years. Hindsight, of course, is 20/20,” he said.

(PTI)

Like Congress, BJP has failed to check fuel prices: Mayawati

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Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati on Tuesday slammed the Modi government for rising fuel prices and accused it of being on the same page as the earlier Congress-led UPA government.

In a statement, the Dalit leader said that the Modi government was also pursuing the “anti-people policies” that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-II pursued.

The Dalit leader alleged that while people were suffering due to the price rise, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders were diffident in answering questions on the economic front.

She termed the government’s oil policy irrational and impractical.

“The fuel prices have spun out of control and the Modi government does not want to upset its industrialist friends,” the four-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, adding that the Union government was doing virtually nothing to control rising prices of petrol and diesel.

She said the Congress and the BJP had both failed in tackling price rise and that the Modi government had no sympathy for the middle class and the poor.

If the central government desired, the fuel prices could be controlled, the BSP leader said.

(IANS)

India remains on White House ‘major’ list on drug trade

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India continues to remain on the White House list of countries that are “major” transit points for or producer of illicit drugs.

The annual list was released on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump prepared for a global campaign against drugs at the UN later in September.

The 21 countries on it include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mexico and Colombia.

India has been on the list since 2004 when President George W. Bush first issued it under a 2003 law enacted by Congress and President Barack Obama continued to keep it there.

India’s inclusion on the list has been a point of friction between New Delhi and Washington.

A country’s presence on the list “is not necessarily a reflection of its government’s counter-narcotics efforts or level of cooperation with the US,” Trump said in his memorandum.

“The reason countries are placed on the list is the combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs to transit or be produced, even if a government has engaged in robust and diligent narcotics control measures,” he clarified.

Significantly, the list has not included any Western countries even though they have figured transit points for drugs.

Nigeria, Brazil, Vietnam and Thailand, which had figured on the original and some subsequent lists are no longer on it.

Trump is scheduled to preside over a high-level meeting of the Security Council on the drug menace on September 24 and issue a global call to action on the world drug problem, US Permanent Representative Nikki Haley announced last week.

Trump has made battling the crisis of opioid addiction that has gripped the US a priority and even suggested that the nation should consider death penalty for drug dealers.

According to the US government more than 72,000 people died from drug overdose in 2017, nearly 50,000 of them from using opioids, including misuse of pharmaceuticals.

Trump said in his memorandum, “My Administration is committed to addressing all factors fuelling this drug crisis, which is devastating communities across America, including steps to curb over-prescription, expand access to treatment and recovery programs, improve public education programs to prevent illicit drug use before it begins, and to strengthening domestic drug enforcement at our borders and throughout our nation.”

“Alongside these massive and historic US efforts, I expect the governments of countries where illicit drugs originate and through which they transit to similarly strengthen their commitments to reduce dangerous drug production and trafficking,” he added.

(IANS)

4,778 people still in 120 Kerala camps

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A month after Kerala was devastated by unprecedented rains and floods, 4,778 people are still in 120 relief camps, authorities said on Tuesday.

According to the Disaster Management State Control Room, the rains and floods have claimed 491 lives since May 29 while 14 persons remain missing.

At the height of the deluge, there were 14.50 lakh people in over 3,000 relief camps.

While Kasargode district was virtually left untouched, the capital district suffered minor damage.

The worst hit districts included Alappuzha, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Wayanad besides parts of Kannur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kottayam and Kollam.

A total of 1,738 persons are in 55 camps in Thrissur district and 1,702 in Alappuzha.

(IANS)

Inflationary risks depress rupee; touches new low of 72.74

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Inflationary risks along with broadly negative global cues depressed the Indian rupee to a new low of 72.74 to the US dollar during late afternoon session on Tuesday.

At 3.35 p.m. the rupee traded around 72.64 per dollar, against the previous close of 72.45 per dollar at the Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange Market.

According to analysts, expectations of higher overall inflation rate, growing protectionism in global trade and an increasing outflow of foreign funds from the country’s equity market have subdued the Indian currency.

(IANS)

BJP trying to snatch 20 legislators through Operation Lotus

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BJP is understood to have launched a major offensive by way of ‘Operation Lotus’ in the state to cause the downfall of the coalition government. This time, its target happens to be 20 MLAs.

The plan is to attract 12 MLAs with the support of Jarkiholi brothers who are said to be disgruntled over the recent developments in Belagavi district. On the other hand, Yeddyurappa is involved with behind-the-scene manoeuvres to get support of eight legislators owing allegiance to other parties. The plan is to put together a minimum of 16 legislators so that the coalition government can be floored.

The BJP hopes to bank prominently on the anger of Jarkiholi brothers relating to PLD bank election in their home district. Reportedly, Balachandra Jarkiholi, who has been identified with the BJP, is acting as mediator between the two sides to conjure up the magic numbers required.

It is gathered that Yeddyurappa has convinced the national leadership of the party for this move by saying that his dream of becoming chief minister will come true only if the coalition government crashes before the Lok Sabha election. However, there is a hitch in the form of state leaders, former deputy chief ministers, Ashok and Eshwarappa and former chief minister, Jagadish Shettar, who have remained aloof without doing anything to favour this move. Realizing this situation, some Congress and JD(S) leaders have meet BJP legislators and offered them posts of ministers. It is a huge task to get support of 16 MLAs, the BJP national leadership knows.

There have been rumours that Ramesh Jarkiholi met Maharashtra chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, through his relatives in that state and discussed some issues with him. Responding to this allegation, Ramesh Jarkiholi clarified that the coalition government does not face any peril from his family. He said he met the chief minister of Maharashtra, as they have sugar factories in Maharashtra. Jarkiholi family is also aggrieved at the chief minister not transferring the superintendent of police and northern range inspector general of police as per their recommendation, and transfer of certain engineers to some other places by minister, Shivakumar, against their wishes.

Although Jarkiholi brothers were to hold discussions with Sriramulu and Yeddyurappa here on Monday, they could not do so as Sriramulu had by then, left for Ballari. While the Jarkiholi brothers have been eyeing the post of the chief minister, Yeddyurappa is said to have agreed to make one of them deputy chief minister.

(IANS)

Kumaraswamy solicit Rs. Rs 1199 cr for Kodagu flood relief

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Karnataka delgation led by CM meets Modi and seeks relief. A high-level delegation from Karnataka led by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought a relief of Rs 1,199 crore for flood-hit seven districts of the state.

The delegation also apprised the prime minister of the prevailing drought-like situation in 17 of the total 30 districts in the state. The delegation comprised former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, and ministers HD Revanna, R V Deshpande, D K Shivakumar and Krishna Byre Gowda. BJP’s Karnataka unit leaders were also invited to the meeting but they chose to give it a miss.

Karnataka CM Kumarswamy and PM Modi

After the meeting, Kumaraswamy said, “We have told the prime minister that the floods in seven districts of the coastal and Malenadu region have not only affected crops but also infrastructure and human life. We have requested Rs 1,199 crore relief from the Centre.” Kumaraswamy said floods and landslides in the state have caused a loss of Rs 3,705.87 crore. He said his government has already released Rs 49 crore from the State Disaster Responde Fund (SDRF) and an additional amount of Rs 200 crore from the state fund to the effected districts towards immediate relief and rehabilitation work.

The chief minister had recently submitted an interim proposal in this regard to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who had assured of sending a central team to ascertain the damage caused.

With regard to the drought-like situation in the state, Revenue Minister Deshpande said 17 districts in the interior parts of northern Karnataka and a few districts in southern interior are facing severe drought. About 89 taluks are facing a drought-like situation, he said. “A decision to declare these taluks as drought-hit will be taken tomorrow in the state cabinet sub-committee meeting. Thereafter, full assessment will made and a memorandum seeking central relief will be submitted in due course,” he said.

The crop loss alone is estimated at more than Rs 8,000 crore taking into account the preliminary assessment of the drought-affected area, he said. Against the total kharif area of 74.69 lakh hectares, sowing has been done in 62.88 lakh hectares as of now. Sowing in the rest of the area has not taken place due to lack of adequate rains, he added.

(PTI)

Stable policy regime for e-mobility soon: Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the government will soon put in place a new stable policy regime to promote the use of electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles in the country to fight climate change.

“We want to build India as a driver in electric vehicles. We will soon put in place a stable policy regime around electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles,” Modi said at the launch of the two-day “Move: Global Mobility Summit” here.

“Clean mobility powered by clean energy is our most powerful weapon in our fight against climate change. This means a pollution-free, clean drive, leading to clean air and better living standards for our people,” he said.

Modi said that in a rapidly transforming mobility paradigm, India had inherent strength and comparative advantages over other major economies.

“We have little of the legacy of resource-blind mobility. We have fewer vehicles per capita than other major economies. Thus, we do not carry much of the baggage of other economies that were built on the back of private car ownership. This gives us a window of opportunity to create an all new seamless mobility ecosystem,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that not only did India have a strong Information Technology sector, but also its vast public digital infrastructure created by the unique identity programme Aadhaar.

“With digitally empowered 850 million Indian citizens, we can demonstrate how such digital infrastructure can be combined with new mobility business models.

“Our renewable energy boost will ensure that the environmental benefits of electric mobility can be fully realised. We plan to draw 175 GW of energy from renewables by 2022. We are already the fifth largest producer of solar energy and sixth largest of renewable energy in the world,” Modi added.

He said that India also had a fast growing manufacturing base and a large digitally-literate young population.

“Therefore, I am convinced that India is the best place globally to be an early mover in the mobility economy… we will do whatever it takes, because this is our commitment to our heritage and our promise to future generations,” he added.

Calling mobility similar to Internet in its early days, Modi said that the mobility revolution was an enabler of India’s growth and development, which was capable of creating employment for those with doctorates and engineering degrees, to drivers and mechanics.

“We should embrace this revolution early and leverage ourselves to lead the mobility innovation ecosystem both for ourselves and others,” he said.

“My vision for the future of mobility in India is based on 7 Cs — common, connected, convenient, congestion-free, charged, clean, cutting-edge.” Charged mobility, Modi said, was the way forward.

“We want to drive investments across the value chain from batteries to smart charging to electric vehicle manufacturing… India’s entrepreneurs manufacturers are now poised to develop and deploy breakthrough battery technology,” he said.

The Prime Minister also said that India’s economy and reforms were on the move in this direction.

“Our economy is on the move. We are the world’s fastest growing major economy. Our cities and towns are on the move. We are building 100 smart cities. Our infrastructure is on the move. We are speedily building roads, airports, rail lines and ports…

“Our goods are on the move. Goods and Services Tax has helped rationalise supply chains and warehouse networks… our reforms are on the move. We have made India an easier place to do business. Our lives are on the move. Families are getting homes, toilets, LPG cylinders, bank accounts and loans… we are fast emerging as the start-up hub of the world,” he said

Indian charged with stabbing roommate for talking loudly on phone

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An Indian man has been charged with stabbing to death his roommate for talking loudly on the phone.

Public prosecution records showed that the 37-year-old Indian construction worker, who was drunk, fatally stabbed the victim in his room in the March incident in Al Qusais area. The Indian was charged at the Court of First Instance, the Khaleej Times reported on Tuesday.

Prosecutors called for a stiff penalty to be inflicted on the Indian.

“I was informed by a driver about a problem involving the defendant. I went to the latter’s room and saw a crowd of labourers… The victim was lying in a pool of blood. He appeared motionless with a stab wound in the abdomen,” said an Indian labour accommodation supervisor.

“I heard from a group of workers that a verbal brawl ensued between the accused and the victim as the latter was talking loudly on his mobile phone”, the supervisor said.

“He (the Indian man) picked a knife and stabbed the victim in the abdomen. He then pulled out the knife and rushed out.”

A witness said that he saw the Indian man outside of the building. “He was apparently drunk and bleeding from between his fingers. He would not tell me how he got that injury,” according to the witness.

A CCTV footage showed the accused hiding the knife under his clothes when he entered a restroom and walking out without it.

The cause of death was severe bleeding due to a deep stab wound, officials said. The trial was adjourned to October 7.

(IANS)

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