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Modi enquires about Karunanidhi’s health, offers assistance

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to DMK leaders M.K. Stalin and M.K. Kanimozhi to inquire about the health of party President M. Karunanidhi and offered necessary assistance.

“Spoke to Thiru M.K. Stalin and Kanimozhi. Enquired about the health of Karunanidhiji and offered any assistance required. I pray for his quick recovery and good health,” Modi tweeted.

The Prime Minister’s remarks came a day after it was revealed that the 94-year-old veteran leader was suffering from urinary tract infection and is being treated at home.

Modi is currently on his five-day, three-nation tour of Africa.

The Kauvery Hospital which is monitoring his health said in a statement on Thursday that there has been a slight decline in Karunanidhi’s health due to age-related ailments.

“He is currently being treated… with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. He is being monitored and treated round the clock by a team of medical and nursing professionals, who are providing hospital-level care at his home,” Kauvery Hospital’s Executive Director Aravindan Selvaraj said.

India, China agree to maintain border tranquility

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India and China reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace and tranquility along their border by enhancing communications between their militaries during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the annual BRICS Summit here.

“Both leaders have reaffirmed once again their readiness to give their militaries the necessary directions to enhance communications between them and to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas,” Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said at a media briefing here on Thursday evening.

Indian and Chinese troops were in a face-off position for over two months on the Doklam plateau at the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction last year.

The stand-off began in June when Indian troops stalled a road building by the Chinese Army in the area, citing the disputed status of the region and its close proximity to India’s artery in the northeast.

New Delhi objected to Chinese road building in Doklam because of the disputed status and its proximity to the Siliguri Corridor which links India’s northeast to the rest of the country.

The stand-off ended in August after both sides retreated from the point of the face-off.

Thursday’s meeting was the third between Modi and Xi after their informal meeting in Wuhan, China, in April initiated by Xi, and on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO) last month.

During the Wuhan meet, both Modi and Xi pledged to keep the India-China border quiet and personally guide their respective armies to avert a Doklam-like military stand-off in future.

According to Gokhale, during the meeting in Johannesburg, both sides saw “forward movement in the sense of delegations going to have specific talks on imports by China”.

He said that a delegation representing the Indian pharmaceutical industry will visit China on August 21-22.

Beijing had given the approval to import of generic Indian cancer-treatment drugs earlier this year.

“In addition, a number of Indian mills in the non-Basmati rice sector have been cleared by a Chinese delegation on the grounds of phytosanitary and quarantine requirement,” the Indian Foreign Secretary said.

Following the Modi-Xi meeting in Qingdao, the 2006 Protocol on phytosanitary requirements for exporting rice from India to China was amended to include the export of non-Basmati varieties of rice from India.

Gokhale described the bilateral meeting as “very productive”.

“The two leaders will meet again on the margins of the G20 Summit in Argentina at the end of this year,” he added.

Modi and Xi earlier in the day participated in the 10th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit here.

PNB fraud: Choksi denies any truth in allegations

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Fugitive diamond jeweler Mehul Choksi, who is wanted by Indian investigative agencies in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, has denied “any truth in the allegations”.

In a statement issued to a Caribbean newspaper ‘Antigua Observer’, Choksi through his attorney David Dorsett said: “I can say categorically, that there is no truth in those allegations.”

On or about July 24, the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) issued a press statement in response to an online story from an Indian media outlet reporting on certain allegations made against Choksi by the Indian authorities and the media.

According to this CIU statement on Wednesday, Choksi was granted citizenship by registration in November 2017 and he swore the Oath of Allegiance in Antigua on January 15, 2018.

The CIU also said that Choksi’s application was granted “after robust due diligence and international investigation by reputable agencies, including the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS)”.

The CIU also said that “the 2017 investigation revealed no derogatory information about Choksi”.

The owner of the Gitanjali group firms further said that in January 2018, “I had need to visit the US to receive medical treatment. Having received treatment I am still in a state convalescence.”

“That being the case, I have decided to reside in Antigua and Barbuda, the country of my citizenship, and to abide by the laws of the country,” he said.

His remarks came three days after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it had written to the Antiguan authorities seeking details of Choksi’s whereabouts in connection with the PNB fraud case.

On Tuesday it was revealed that Choksi had moved to Antigua from the US several weeks ago using an Antiguan passport.

The revelation came from Antiguan authorities in response to a CBI diffusion notice circulated to foreign countries through Interpol.

The CBI came to know of it last week and shared the information with the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Both the CBI and the ED have been probing the multi-crore fraud allegedly committed between 2011-2017 by Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi.

Choksi also said that “I can, however, state that I lawfully applied to be registered as a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda under the Citizenship by Investment Program.

“During the course of my application I did all that was lawfully required of me to do,” he claimed, adding, “My application for citizenship was in due course approved.”

Choksi also claimed that his application was motivated by his desire to expand his business interest in the Caribbean and to obtain visa free travel access to 130 countries.

“That remains my reason for choosing to become a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda,” he said.

The red corner notice (RCN) request from the CBI to the Interpol against Choksi is still pending.

Earlier in July, the Interpol issued the RCN against fugitive diamond jeweller Nirav Modi, his brother, a Belgian national, Nishal Modi and an executive of his firm Subhash Parab.

India, South Africa sign three agreements India,

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Pretoria: Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with South African Deputy President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa during a meeting in Pretoria, South Africa on Friday.

India and South Africa signed three agreements, including in the areas of agriculture and space cooperation, following bilateral talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the annual BRICS Summit here.

Addressing the media here on Thursday evening, Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said that both leaders expressed satisfaction at the growth of bilateral trade.

India-South Africa trade stood at a little over $4.1 billion till the end of August last year.

“Among the areas, the Prime Minister said the South African companies should be exploring in India are defence, food processing, and health insurance,” Gokhale said.

The two sides signed three agreements on cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, setting up of Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela Centre of specialization for artisan skills, and agricultural research and education.

This was Modi’s first meeting with Ramaphosa after the latter assumed office in February this year.

China ready to work with new government in Pakistan

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China on Thursday said it stands ready to work with the new establishment in Pakistan, as Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf inched closer to victory.

Beijing also said it was glad to see “smooth elections” in Pakistan and hoped the results will not affect the development of bilateral ties.

China has high stakes in Pakistan where it has invested over $50 billion on a multitude of infrastructure projects under its ambitious Belt and Road programme.

“We are glad to see the election in Pakistan went through smoothly. We sincerely hope the country can maintain political social stability and focus on development,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.

The friendship between China and Pakistan is supported by the two people and the bilateral ties will grow, regardless of the election result, he said.

“China stands ready to work with the new government in Pakistan to move forward all-weather strategic partnership,” Geng added.

China calls Pakistan its all-weather ally and defends the country on terror, which frustrates India.

CID puts 88 NGOs on notice over Rs 265-crore funds

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The Crime Investigating Department (CID) of the Jharkhand Police has served notice to 88 non-governmental organizations that received funds totaling Rs 265 crore in three years starting 2013, informed sources said on Thursday.

CID sources said the NGOs have been asked to explain whether they are registered under the relevant laws, details of office-bearers, sources of funds, including from abroad, and income and expenditure details of the last five years, among others.

The sources said that these NGOs had received Rs 265 crore between 2013 and 2016, following which the Special (Intelligence) Branch had expressed apprehensions in 2016 that foreign funds were being misused for religious conversions in the state.

The sources said that a probe was initiated following directions from the Home Ministry to the state government.

“The Ministry had received a complaint against these NGOs which were receiving funds from abroad. These NGOs allegedly did not file annual income tax returns and also hid their sources of income and expenditure,” one source added.

The Additional Director General of Police (CID) is monitoring the probe.

The Ranchi police are already investigating the Missionaries of Charity after an uproar over the alleged sale of several newborns at its Ranchi shelter home.

On the other hand, Christian organizations have accused the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party government of “harassing them by leveling false allegations”.

The Jharkhand Police has recommended a CBI probe into the activities and funds received by the Missionaries of Charity and affiliated organizations. The Raghubar Das government is yet to take a decision.

Parrikar to meet Sushma to secure release of Dubai ponzi scam accused

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Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said his government would seek the help of Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to secure the release of Ryan de Souza, who was in April this year sentenced to 517-year imprisonment by a Dubai court for alleged involvement in a $200 million ponzi scam.

“I can’t decide the matter. It depends on facts though I have sympathy for him. The case has been decided by the Dubai Court. I will meet the External Affairs Minister when I visit Delhi either August 7 or 8,” Parrikar told the Goa assembly, in response to a question raised by Thivim MLA Nilkanth Halarnkar.

De Souza is a resident of Siolim village in North Goa and was employed at the Lemos Foundation, run by Sydney Lemos, an alleged mastermind of the ponzi scam, who was similarly sentenced by the Dubai Court. De Souza, 24, was arrested while attempting to leave the Emirate.

Pointing out that India shares warm relations with Dubai, he said the cordiality should help in resolving the matter.

Among other legislators, who urged the Chief Minister to speed up the process were Opposition leader Chandrakant Kavlekar and Nationalist Congress Party MLA Churchill Alemao.

On April 11, De Souza, along with his employer Sydney Lemos, promoter of the Exential Group, were sentenced by the Dubai Misdemeanours Court for their involvement in the ponzi scam probed by the United Arab Emirates authorities.

Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti calls for Bandh on August 2

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The demand for a separate North Karnataka state has once again gained momentum in the state with a few activists calling a bandh.

On Wednesday, the President of the Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti, Somashekar Kotambari said that the state government was doling out “step-motherly treatment” to the areas of north Karnataka.

He called for a bandh in the 13 districts of North Karnataka on August 2 against the “government’s attitude” towards settling the Mahadayi water dispute.

The Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti individuals additionally said that they have moved toward different activists and associations in the northern district, who will support their objective. The individuals from the UKHS communicated their disappointment in regards to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s announcement on Monday regarding the demand of waiving farmer’s loan in Koppala.

The UKHS has demanded that the state government form an expert committee to assess the demand for a separate state of North Karnataka and to likewise present the committee’s report to the Central government for approval.

The Samiti also demanded that the state government promptly resolve the Mahadayi water dispute.

Pakistan elections: Who is Imran Khan?

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The outspoken cricketer-turned-politician, Imran Khan, is seeking to lead Pakistan as prime minister.

Contesting its third elections, Khan’s opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) is poised to make inroads at the country’s general elections on Wednesday.

He has appealed to the masses, especially the younger generation, with his campaign slogan of creating a “new Pakistan” and rooting out corruption.

Michael Kugelman, a US-based analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington, DC, said Khan’s rise to power would be in line with global trends, where “maverick, unconventional, and shoot-from-the-hip national leaders” are enjoying a renaissance.

“For Imran Khan’s legion of devoted followers, he represents the new, bold, incorruptible leader that the country has long sought,” Kugelman told Al Jazeera in an emailed interview. “In reality, there would be some considerable concerns about a Prime Minister Khan, ranging from his complete lack of experience in holding the national power to his proud and stubborn personality, which could worry a Pakistani military that prefers that civilian leaders be pliable.”

Early life
Khan, 65, was born and raised in an affluent ethnic Pashtun family in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore, Punjab.

He was schooled at Lahore’s elite all-boys Aitchison College before graduating from Oxford University in 1975 with a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.

As the captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team, Khan famously led the country to its first and only victory at the 1992 World Cup in Australia.

After retiring from the sport, Khan devoted most of his time to philanthropy and social work.

He launched Pakistan’s first specialized cancer center, Shaukat Khanum, named after his late mother who succumbed to the disease.

In 2008, Khan also established a private technical college in Punjab’s rural Mianwali district, called Namal College.

Political career

Increasingly disillusioned by the county’s bureaucracy and endemic corruption, Khan entered the political realm in 1996, founding his centrist PTI party with a promise of ensuring “insaf” (justice) for all.

As party chairman, Khan won his first seat in the National Assembly in the 2002 general elections, contesting from his paternal ancestral hometown of Mianwali, Punjab.

Following a boycott of the 2008 polls as a stance against corruption, Khan stunned the political classes in Islamabad by unexpectedly attracting hundreds of thousands of supporters to public rallies in Lahore and Karachi in late 2011.

After a provincial victory at the 2013 general elections, PTI governed the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for five years.

“Since emerging as a major player in Pakistani politics in 2013, what Pakistan has seen of Imran Khan is a lot of disruptive and agitational politics, a lot of disregard for elected institutions including the parliament to which he was elected but he hardly went there,” said Aamer Ahmed Khan, a Karachi-based journalist.

Khan led Pakistan to its first and only cricket World Cup victory in 1992
Khan has long been a vocal critic of the now-jailed prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

He led protests in 2014, demanding that the government, led by Sharif’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), resign over alleged poll-rigging.

Khan pushed the Supreme Court case instigated by the Panama Papers leak scandal against Sharif, which ultimately led to his disqualification and imprisonment.

Khan’s rivals say his rise and the fall of Sharif was engineered by the establishment – a local metaphor used for Pakistan’s powerful military. Khan denies the allegations as a “foreign conspiracy” to malign the army, which also rejects the charge.

Policies
Ahead of the elections, under the slogan of “new Pakistan”, Khan spearheaded a campaign against corruption with a promise to reform systems of governance in the country.

Khan has pledged to create as many as 10 million jobs, in addition to building five million low-cost housing units over the next five years, according to his party manifesto.

“Pakistan is broken from inside, not from outside; and when Pakistan reforms itself from the inside, the outside will improve very significantly,” said Rasul Bakhsh Rais, professor of political science at Lahore University of Management Sciences in a phone interview. “And he [Khan] is the right man to take courageous decisions.”

What Pakistan has seen of Imran Khan is a lot of disruptive and agitational politics, a lot of disregard for elected institutions, including the parliament.

Internationally, Khan has called for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute with rival and neighbour India within the parameters of the UN Security Council resolutions.

The PTI head has criticised US policy in Afghanistan and called for peace talks to be held with the Taliban, forcing his critics to call him “Taliban Khan” for being too soft on the armed group. He vehemently denies the accusations.

If elected, analysts and critics say the inexperienced public office holder will face significant domestic and foreign policy challenges.

“Internationally, Khan would have to deal with two neighbours – India and Afghanistan – that mistrust Pakistan in a big way and will be watching closely to see how conciliatory a message Pakistan’s next leader delivers to them, and how much policy space the military gives that new leader to wage foreign policy,” said Kugelman.

“There is also the troubled relationship with the US, which Khan has vociferously criticised over the years and will be in no rush to try to improve.”

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