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Rohingya return must be safe, sustainable: Indian envoy

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Rohingya refugees’ return to Myanmar’s Rakhine state should be safe, speedy and sustainable, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Monday.

In his first visit to Bangladesh’s Kutupalong refugee camp, inhabited mostly by Rohingya Muslims, Shringla said India was focussing on three “Ss” to address the Rohingya crisis, bdnews24.com reported.

Bangladesh is currently providing shelter to over 1 million Rohingyas who fled “ethnic cleansing” in the Rakhine state.

The High Commissioner handed over relief materials to Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzel Hussain Chowdhury Maya for Rohingyas refugees living in Bangladesh.

Over 1.1 million litres of super kerosene oil and 20,000 kerosene multi wick stoves were handed over in the third phase of humanitarian assistance from the Indian government to Bangladesh, reports say.

The Bangladeshi Minister thanked India for its fuel support and said the latest round of Indian aid will help over 20,000 families for five months.

“Fuel is a big problem and it’s a complex issue. We sought support from India and they responded very positively. We thank them for this support,” said Maya.

The Rohingya exodus from Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh began in August 2017 after a crackdown by the Myanmarese military that the UN likened to “ethnic cleansing with signs of genocide through killings, rapes and the razing of houses that year”.

But the Myanmar government says it was fighting militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and was not targeting civilians.

In September 2017, the Indian government under “Operation Insaniyat” extended the first phase of humanitarian assistance comprising of 981 tonnes of relief supplies.

The relief material consisted of family packs of rice, pulses, sugar, salt, cooking oil, tea, ready-to-eat noodles, biscuits and mosquito nets.

In May 2018, 373 tonnes of relief materials, including 104 tonnes of milk powder, 102 tonnes of dried fish, 61 tonnes of baby food, 50,000 raincoats and 50,000 pairs of gum boots for the rainy season were handed over in Chattogram.

Earlier, the Myanmar government agreed to a deal with Bangladesh to repatriate refugees, but few have returned. The Rohingya leaders say they would not go back unless they were guaranteed safety.

Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi has faced international outrage for not condemning the Army’s actions in Rakhine state.

A predominantly Buddhist country, Myanmar denies Rohingyas citizenship. The government even excluded them from the 2014 census and refused to recognize them as a people.

(IANS)

Congress-JD(S) coalition government 100 per cent safe

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AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday said there is no threat to the Congress-JD(S) coalition government and it will complete the full five-year term.

Speaking to media persons after meeting former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Venugopal accused the BJP of trying to destabilise the government. “The government is 100 per cent safe. We have full faith in our MLAs and none of them will quit the party,” he said and accused the BJP of trying to poach his party MLAs.

KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “BJP leaders are indulging in dirty politics and we will expose them. We have even filed a complaint with the Income Tax department.”The BJP, however, has rubbished the allegations and stated that it has nothing to do with the crisis in Congress.

Rao said all Congress MLAs are with the party. “All MLAs, including those from Ballari district, are in touch and there is no need to call them for meetings again and again,” he said, adding that the legislative party meeting will be called ahead of next month’s legislative council elections. The party had recently convened a meeting of MLAs from Ballari after they expressed displeasure over not being included in the ministry.

Rao said even in BBMP Mayor’s election, BJP is trying to come to power by getting support from independent members in the council. The mayoral and deputy mayoral elections are scheduled in the last week of this month and Congress-JD(S) are in power in BBMP with support from independent members.

 

 

Pakistan must decide how to live peacefully with neighbours: Rajnath

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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that he hopes the new government in Pakistan will bring about positive changes in its approach to seek peace with neighbours.

Addressing the media at the BSF headquarters in Paloura area of Jammu district, he said: “Pakistan has its own nature and we cannot change their nature. They will have to do it.

“Whatever initiatives India could take, we have taken. The Prime Minister broke protocol to visit Pakistan. I pray to God the new government in Pakistan understands how good relations are built with neighbours.”

Rajnath Singh said there were challenges which the nation faced.

“Whether it is the Naxal violence or terrorism in J&K, our security forces are dealing with this effectively. The Army, CRPF and state police are working here in absolute coordination.”

Asked about the boycott of municipal and panchayat polls by the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party, he said: “I appeal to these parties to take part in these elections because this is the only way to establish direct contact with the people.”

The Minister inaugurated two smart border fencing pilot projects on the international border in Jammu on Monday under the comprehensive integrated border management system (CIBMS) programme.

He told the media: “When I visited Israel, I saw this system there and immediately after that we started work on this project.

“Based on the feedback, the system will be foolproof. I have launched two such pilot projects here. We will launch a similar 60 km long pilot project in Assam.”

(IANS)

State govt transfers 20 IPS officers

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In a major reshuffle, the state government on Saturday transferred 20 IPS officers, including top-ranking officers in the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the Karnataka Lokayukta and State Intelligence Department.

Notably the transfer orders came a day after chief minister Kumaraswamy alleged that “certain kingpins’ were trying to bribe Congress and JD(S) MLAs to pull down his ministry, and were mobilising funds from people involved in illegal activities towards this end.

The new postings are: Alok Mohan (ADGP, railways, Bengaluru), P S Sandhu (commissioner for traffic and road safety, Bengaluru), P Ravindranath (ADGP, forest cell, Bengaluru), Sanjay Sahay (ADGP, police computer wing, Bengaluru), Alikana S Murthy (ADGP, Karnataka Lokayukta, Bengaluru), Alok Kumar (additional commissioner of police, crime, Bengaluru), N Satheesh Kumar (DIG, KSRP, Bengaluru), Sandeep Patil (Jt commissioner, CAR, Bengaluru), PS Harsha (DIG, prisons, Bengaluru), KT Balakrishna (SP, intelligence, Bengaluru), P Rajendra Prasad (SP, wireless, Bengaluru), Ram Niwas Sepat (SP, ACB, Bengaluru), Ida Martin Marbaniang (DCP, traffic west, Bengaluru), Bheemashankar S Guled (SP, railways, Bengaluru), G Radhika (AIGP, DGP office, Bengaluru), Hanumantharaya (SP, Yadgir), S Girish (DCP crime, Bengaluru), AN Prakash Gowda (SP, Hassan), KV Jagadish (DCP, traffic east, Bengaluru) and N Chaitra (SP, directorate of civil rights enforcement, Bengaluru).

Meanwhile, it is learnt that few Congress legislators are opposed to the transfer of several senior officers by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and the issue is likely to come up for discussion at a meeting, scheduled today (Sunday) to be held by AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal with party leaders.

(PTI)

Trump’s SC pick’s sexual assault accuser comes forward

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A woman accusing Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct more than 30 years ago has come forward publicly, detailing her allegations about President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee.

In an exclusive Washington Post interview on Sunday, Christine Blasey Ford said that one summer in the early 1980s, Kavanaugh and a friend – both “stumbling drunk” corralled her into a bedroom during a gathering of teenagers at a house in Montgomery County.

While his friend watched, she said, Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed and groped her over her clothes. When she tried to scream, she said, he put his hand over her mouth.

“I thought he might inadvertently kill me,” said Ford, now a 51-year-old research psychologist in northern California. “He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing.”

Ford said she was able to escape when Kavanaugh’s friend and classmate at Georgetown Preparatory School, Mark Judge, jumped on top of them. She said she ran from the room, briefly locked herself in a bathroom and then fled the house.

“Now I feel like my civic responsibility is outweighing my anguish and terror about retaliation,” Ford told The Post.

Ford said she told no one of the incident in any detail until 2012, when she was in couples therapy with her husband.

The therapist’s notes, portions of which were provided by Ford and reviewed by The Washington Post, do not mention Kavanaugh’s name but say she reported that she was attacked by students “from an elitist boys’ school” who went on to become “highly respected and high-ranking members of society in Washington”.

On Sunday, the White House sent The Post a statement Kavanaugh issued last week, when the outlines of Ford’s account became public.

“I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time,” he said in the statement.

Ford in a letter in July described the incident and said she expected her story to be kept confidential.

(IANS)

BJP team meets Goa MLAs over leadership, no consensus yet

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The BJP central leadership’s attempts to form a consensus between party MLAs and alliance partners in Goa over alternate leadership due to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s illness remained inconclusive on Sunday.

Allocation of portfolios held by Parrikar could take place in the next few days, a ruling alliance Minister said.

Emerging out of a city hotel, where BJP’s General Secretary (organisation) Ram Lal and party observers B.L. Santosh and Vijay Puranik met MLAs from the BJP, allies Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Goa Forward, and Independent MLAs for several hours, Lal said that he will address the media on Monday.

Earlier in the day, BJP MLAs emerged from their meetings with the BJP observers and supported continuation of Parrikar as CM ’till he is alive’. “Within the BJP, they should find somebody and Parrikar should remain the Chief Minister till he is alive,” BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral told reporters.

Parrikar is admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi for treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

MGP leaders, including Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, insisted that no leadership issue was discussed by their representatives with BJP’s central leaders.

“What was discussed today was not about the government, but about the people of Goa. No leadership issued was discussed,” Dhavalikar said.

Till Saturday, MGP President Deepak Dhavalikar had insisted that administration was suffering on account of Parrikar’s repeated absence and a functional CM was necessary.

Dhavalikar on Sunday maintained that Parrikar was well and clearing files, so there was no question of giving any other person the chief ministerial charge.

However, Goa Forward President and Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai’s move to bunch together six MLAs — including himself and two other Goa Forward MLAs — and make a collective demand for a “permanent solution” caused discomfiture to the BJP’s central observers.

“We met the BJP central observers and impressed upon them to find a permanent solution to the leadership issue. Ad hocism is not an option. We asked them to take their time and not act in haste. We also told them to take the views of Parrikar and arrive at a decision,” Sardesai told reporters after meeting Ram Lal.

Sardesai on Saturday had rejected a proposal mooted by the MGP to appoint Dhavalikar the Deputy Chief Minister, who would officiate as Chief Minister in Parrikar’s absence.A

Asked if the BJP had discussed finding a permanent solution to the leadership issue with alliance leaders, Ram Lal responded with a firm “no.”

State BJP President Vinay Tendulkar said that “there is no question of change in leadership”.

Parrikar was shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi on Saturday.

The state BJP’s core committee is expected to meet on Monday to deliberate the issue in presence of the three observers.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 14 MLAs in the 40-member Assembly, of which three are severely ill. Support of allies is thus critical to the survival of the alliance government.

(IANS)

India-US military exercise begins in Uttarakhand

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India and US armies on Sunday began a two-week joint military exercise in Uttarakhand to hone their tactical and technical skills in countering insurgency and terrorism in a United Nation peacekeeping scenario, said officials.

They said that battalion-strong Army personnel from the US and an equal number from India are participating in ‘Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2018’ at Chaubattia in Almora district.

“State-of-the-art equipment for surveillance and tracking, specialist weapons for close- quarter battle with terrorists, explosive and improvised explosive device detectors, as well as the latest communication equipment are being fielded by both sides,” a Defence Ministry statement said.

The two armies will jointly train, plan and execute a series of tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered in UN peacekeeping operations during division-level command post exercise, said the statement.

“The experts from both sides will discuss and share each other’s experience in varied topics for mutual benefit.”

The exercise commenced with the unfurling of the national flags of both the countries to the strains of their respective national anthems ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘The Star Spangled Banner’.

The US contingent was represented by 1st Infantry Battalion and 23 Infantry Regiment, while the Indian side is represented by an Infantry Battalion.

“General Officer Commanding, 6 Mountain Division, welcomed the US soldiers in his inaugural remarks and highlighted the shared beliefs in democracy, freedom, equality and justice,” added the statement.

(IANS)

Nobody becomes EC without political approach: Akhilesh

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Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said that nobody becomes an Election Commissioner “without political approach”.

“People don’t get appointed there (Election Commission) without political approach. Since I too have been a Chief Minister, I know it,” Yadav said at the NDTV youth conclave here when asked if he trusts the Election Commission’s neutrality.

“A list of the proposed names comes (to the appointing authority). So, ultimately, they (appointees) have to pass through a political process. We may say from outside that the commission is neutral, but it does pass through a political arrangement,” the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister added.

Yadav pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a rally in Baghpat less than 24 hours before polling in neighbouring Kairana and Noorpur by-polls in Uttar Pradesh in May but the EC did not stop him.

He said that the rally could have influenced the voters in the adjacent constituencies.

Speaking about EVMs, Yadav said: “The trust has been breached, and I was the first to flag the issue. We can only request the EC to explain to political parties as to how it restores the EVMs that develop snag.”

The Samajwadi Party leader advocated the use of ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for free and fair elections.

“If ballot papers are used, people’s anger would be vented and the trust-deficit with the EVMs will also be healed,” he said.

The Samajwadi Party leader also said that the nation must be “saved from the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)”.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is visible. But we have also to fight the one which is invisible. It was the RSS that spread false propaganda on the ground against the Samajwadi Party during the Assembly elections… the RSS creates gulf between different castes and communities,” Yadav said.

He said that the road to PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) passes through Uttar Pradesh and he and other like-minded parties would ensure that the BJP is defeated in the state in the next Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

“If the BJP is stopped in Uttar Pradesh, it will be stopped nationally… if anyone can stop the BJP, it is the regional forces,” Yadav said.

“I will all be for the alliance and will not hesitate to go back two steps, if needed (for the grand alliance). I will not back off,” he said, adding that the Congress as a national party ought to have a “large heart” on the alliance.

“Their (Congress) responsibility is bigger as it is a national party. They need to take the regional parties along,” he said.

(IANS)

After floods, Kerala Tourism gets first international charter

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The money-spinning Kerala tourism industry celebrated quietly on Sunday after receiving the first chartered flight of tourists this season following the devastating floods.

The flight with 46 tourists from Australia landed at the Cochin International Airport here on Saturday night.

The heavy rains and unprecedented floods that shattered the state, leaving hundreds dead and thousands homeless and causing widespread destruction, led to numerous cancellations by tourists.

“Our efforts have already started paying off. Most of our tourist destinations are ready to welcome the visitors from India and abroad. The state government has accorded top priority to restoring roads leading to tourist places,” said Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran.

Kerala’s total direct earnings from the sector in the last calendar year touched Rs 26,000 crore, up from Rs 23,098 crore, a growth of 12.56 per cent.

Speaking to IANS, E.M. Najeeb, who heads the Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI), said it was a friend who organised the charter flight from Australia.

“They have planned a 21-day trip to India and had cancelled the three-day Kerala leg. When I came to know of it, I promised that they will have nothing to worry about in Kerala.

“By now 90 per cent of the damaged infrastructure has been put back to place,” said Najeeb.

Meanwhile, the 10th edition of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) will be held here from September 27 to 30.

“The response has been huge. Close to 400 overseas buyers and 1,095 domestic buyers have registered to take part,” said Baby Mathew, President, KTM Society.

(IANS)

US Warns the World Against Going to Business With Iran, But May Squeeze India Into Waiver List

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The United States has warned of having a “fundamentally different set of rules” to deal with the countries continuing to have economic activities with Iran after its sanction against Tehran becomes fully operational on November 4.

Make no mistake about it, come November 4 (and) there will be a fundamentally different set of rules with respect to anyone who deems it necessary to engage in economic activities with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters at a news conference here Friday.

In the absence of any waiver or concession from the Trump Administration, it could have major implications for India, which is one of the biggest importers of Iranian oil and is currently developing the strategic Chabahar port.

Officials of the two countries are having an ongoing discussion on both the issues. This includes the meeting between the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. The meeting took place immediately after Pompeo’s press conference.

“There are still a number of decisions pending before the November 4 deadline that we’ve got to make about waivers or potential waivers, and we’re working our way through each of them, Pompeo said.

India is one of the countries which is likely to get some waiver, given the strategic nature of Indo-US ties, the strategic importance of the Chabahar port and its burgeoning energy needs.

India, on its part has already started reducing its oil intake from Iran, but is unlikely to bring it down to zero.

You can see many countries already taking actions to move out of Iran, to discontinue doing business with them in advance of the November 4 deadline, Pompeo said in response to a question, adding these countries understand the seriousness of the US sanctions.

Pompeo said they also appreciate that trading with Iran is “supporting the exact kinds of malign activity that President Donald Trump has been talking about since the first day he took office.”

The various “malign activities” that the US Secretary of State listed included alleged supply of missiles by Iran to Houthis to launch into Gulf countries airports.

These activities further included “the activities we have seen taken by Shia militias against American interests or the assassination efforts underway in the heart of Europe,” said Pompeo.

The world is beginning to see that the challenge is much bigger than anything that the JCPOA even pretended to have addressed, he said.

Pompeo said he has also seen the statements “the Iranians have said this week.”

They’ve said, boy, if we end up withdrawing, we’ll start from a much higher level. I may have the quote off just a little bit but I’m very close. Wow, what does that say about the existence of the agreement, right?

“They’re going to start from a much higher level. It tells you that the agreement itself didn’t stop all the paths to nuclear weapons in the way that it was sold to the American people,” he said.

During the news conference, Pompeo slammed the former Secretary of State John Kerry for having talks with the Iranian leadership.

What Secretary Kerry has done is unseemly and unprecedented. This is a former secretary of state engaged with the world’s largest state sponsor of terror. He was talking to them. He was telling them to wait out this administration, Pompeo said.

You can’t find precedent for this in US history, and Secretary Kerry ought not to engage in that kind of behavior. It’s inconsistent with what foreign policy of the United States is, as directed by this President, and it is beyond inappropriate for him to be engaged in this, he said.

I wasn’t in the meeting, but I am reasonably confident that he was not there in support of the US policy with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran, who this week fired Katyusha rockets toward the United States embassy in Baghdad and took action against our consulate in Basra, Pompeo said.

 

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