Arun Jaitley:An Empty Rhetoric by the Congress Party
26 mins ·
The Congress party has run out of ideas. It has perfected the art of scoring self-goals. The latest example is the Press Conference that its Spokesperson held on 7th July 2016 alleging a telecom scam of Rs.46,000 crores.
Under the well established policy of Government of India, telecom service providers pay to the Government of India license fee and spectrum user charges on a revenue sharing basis. A CAG Report of February 2016 has stated that the six telephone providers, between the period 2006-07 to 2009-10, have under reported their revenues to the extent of Rs.46,000 crores, thereby depleting the share of the Union Government in license fee and spectrum user charges by about Rs.5000 Crores. The CAG Report was received by the Telecom Department in February this year and its supporting documents were received in June 2016 and the same are now being scrutinized so that the Telecom Department can take further action in the matter. As per Parliamentary procedure, the CAG Report is now pending before the Public Accounts Committee.
The pertinent question is how is this a scam of the NDA Government? The under reporting by the telecom service providers relates to the period when UPA was in power. The UPA Government, under its very nose, allowed this under reporting. The Final CAG report pointed it out in February 2016 and only 3 weeks ago have the documents been sent by the CAG to the Telecom Department. Notwithstanding the fact that the issue is pending before the PAC, the Telecom Department, which is processing these documents, will take action. What is act of omission and commission by the present Government? An impropriety took place during the UPA Government for which the present Government will take action.
The question, however, is the pathetic plight of the Congress party. Notwithstanding the fact that this impropriety took place during the UPA Government, the Congress Spokesman made an empty noise about this being an NDA Telecom Scam. Shrillness, non-application of mind and a belligerent rhetoric seem to be the strategy of the Congress party. It is a pity that the Party has been pushed to this desperation.
Euro Cup 2016: France beat Germany 2-0 in semis
Euro cup, France defeated world champion Germany 2-0 in a pulsating semi-final match at Marseille last night. It will now take on Portugal in the final on Sunday in Paris. It has taken France 58 years to defeat Germany in a major tournament. The hosts look to add another trophy with two European Championship titles in 1984 and 2000 and a World Cup title in 1998. Antoine Griezmann scored a penalty in the first half and another goal in the second half to carry the hosts into the Euro 2016 final. Griezmann becomes France’s new poster boy by scoring two goals and took his tally for this tournament to six goals. He now stands second after Michel Platini in the history of French scoring charts at European Championships.
India, UK to hold trade talks
Britain will start trade talks with India for a bilateral deal as it redraws economic ties with the world after it left the European Union. UK’s Business Secretary Sajid Javid is visiting India this evening where he is scheduled to hold talks with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as well as Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to start the trade talks that will eventually lead to a bilateral deal. UK is the largest G20 investor in India, while India invests more in the UK than the rest of the European Union combined. India has also emerged as the third largest source of FDI for the UK.
Taiwan hits typhoon Nepartak
At least two people died and 66 others injured after super typhoon Nepartak slammed into Taiwan’s eastern coast today. After the storm made landfall in Taitung County, it weakened to a medium-strength typhoon. Taiwan’s Emergency Authorities said, about 15,000 people have been evacuated and more than 500 flights canceled ahead of the storm’s landfall. The storm is expected to hit mainland China later today.
Dallas protest Five police officers killed, six injured
United States, five police officers were killed and six injured, some of them critically, by the sniper fire during protests against the shooting of black men by police in Dallas. Dallas Police Chief David Brown said three suspects are in custody but are refusing to co-operate with police. The suspect who was involved in a stand-off with police in a Dallas parking garage is now dead, according to multiple US media reports. However, police have not confirmed the death. He was one of four suspects believed to have launched a co-ordinated attack to kill Dallas police officers. The other three suspects are all in custody. The protest i
India gives SUVs to Mozambique, completes delivery of $4.5 mn grant
Jul 8, 6:41 AM
Coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mozambique, India has handed over 30 SUVs to it. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted that with this India completed the delivery of 4.5 million US dollar grant assistance as part of supporting the institutions of this African country.
The vehicles were handed over by Amar Sinha, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the External Affairs Ministry, to an official of Mozambique’s Interior Ministry.
Swarup posted on Twitter the photographs of the handing over ceremony along with the caption “supporting Mozambican institutions. Shortly before that, the Prime Minister handed over four buses to Centre for Innovation and Technological Development (CIDT) as donation from India Swaroop tweeted. The Prime Minister went around the campus of the CIDT and interacted with students who have studied in India under ITEC and other programmes.
The vehicles were handed over by Amar Sinha, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the External Affairs Ministry, to an official of Mozambique’s Interior Ministry.
Swarup posted on Twitter the photographs of the handing over ceremony along with the caption “supporting Mozambican institutions. Shortly before that, the Prime Minister handed over four buses to Centre for Innovation and Technological Development (CIDT) as donation from India Swaroop tweeted. The Prime Minister went around the campus of the CIDT and interacted with students who have studied in India under ITEC and other programmes.
POWERMIN: HYDRO POWER PROJECTS IN LIMBO TO BE ATTENDED:
Addressing a function in New Delhi of Infocom2016 , organised by ABP Media the Power Minister Piyush Goyal assured the Hydro power projects in limbo need to be attended:
On question of hydro power projects lay stuck, which in turn has put various banks NPA too in low ebb,the Power Minister Piyush Goyal said my attention was first to create surplus powers. Now we shall soon be getting to this hydro power projects in limbo.In this regards FM is likely to meet today Friday with five concerned ministries on this subject. Hydro powers project stuck due to various ministries shall soon be attended .On question of mining for the high value metals he said the demand for such metals are frugal, but the experts find the nation has abundance requirements of special aluminium in electrical IOT, high value steel in auto, and India is leading importer of Gold Silver Aluminium.
Piyush Goyal said the country can achieve as high as 50 per cent growth in electricity production up to 1.65 trillion units next year. Addressing a function in New Delhi yesterday, Mr Goyal said, we need to double our power production. He said given the infrastructure and generating capacity we have the ability to double our power production.
The minister termed power shortages cited by the states as technical arising out of mismanagement. He said there was surplus production of coal now unlike in the past when two-third of India’s power plants were left with only critical coal stocks. The minister said 1.11 lakh crore rupees would be pumped in for technological upgradation of power infrastructure through various schemes for rural and urban India.
The minister termed power shortages cited by the states as technical arising out of mismanagement. He said there was surplus production of coal now unlike in the past when two-third of India’s power plants were left with only critical coal stocks. The minister said 1.11 lakh crore rupees would be pumped in for technological upgradation of power infrastructure through various schemes for rural and urban India.
He added that the government was trying to ensure 24×7 power supply to each household by 2019, three years ahead of the target. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced
providing power to the last household by 2022.
providing power to the last household by 2022.
National mineral exploration policy has been unveiled to adopt comprehensive exploration of non fuel and non coal mineral resources.
The new policy aims to bring together best of knowledge and experience, modern technology, trained manpower and financial resources on a collaborative platform. Space technology would be used to check illegal mining by developing a mining surveillance system.
Releasing the policy at National conclave on mines and minerals at Raipur in Chhattisgarh, Union minister Narendra singh Tomar said the objective is to set in motion a massive process for mineral exploration on the country that would give a major boost to the economy. Chief minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh was also present on the occasion.
India, S Africa sign MoUs in four areas of co-operation
India and South Africa today signed MoUs in four areas of co-operation. The MoUs are in the area of Information and Communication technology, Tourism, Grass root innovation and ‘art and culture’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a press briefing, after having one to one talk with the South African President Jacob Juma in Pretoria, South Africa, said the two countries have agreed to cooperate in combating terrorism, regionally and globally.
Mr. Modi said between India and South Africa there is potential to expand business and investment ties further in areas of minerals, mining, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. He said the two countries are partnering to shape international agenda through IBSA & BRICS.
Mr. Modi further said he looks forward to welcoming the South African President for BRICS Summit in Goa. Mr. Modi thanked the South African President for support to India’s NSG membership. Prime Minister also said his South Africa visit is an opportunity to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.
Maneka Sanjay Gandhi meets Twitter India team
Maneka Sanjay Gandhi meets Twitter India team to address the issue of harassment of women & children on social media platforms
The Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi today held a meeting with a team of Twitter India led by Ms. Mahima Kaul, Head of Public Policy, Twitter India to discuss the issue of empowering women and children to deal with abuse, harassment and hateful conduct on social media especially on Twitter. Secretary, WCD, Ms Leena Nair and senior officials of the WCD Ministry were also present at the meeting held in New Delhi today.
The WCD Ministry had advised women and children to send their complaints if they are being abused or harassed on social media platforms. Ever since this message was sent out, the Ministry has been receiving a large number of complaints on this. The entire issue has been discussed in detail in light of the nature of complaints.
It was decided at the meeting that if any woman or child is facing the following kind of posts on social media platforms, they should report the same to the Ministry:
(i) Abusive behaviour:- Violent threats (direct or indirect)
(ii) Harassment: – Inciting or engaging in targeted abuse or harassment.
(iii) Hateful conduct: – Promotion of violence or direct attack or threatening other people.
It was decided that the complaints received by the Ministry, which are of a grave nature, will be reported to Twitter India for necessary action. During the meeting, the Twitter team also highlighted that they have their own Grievance Redressal Mechanism which the affected persons should continue to use (https://support.twitter.com/forms/abusiveuser). The Ministry will also be working with the Cyber-crime Cells of the police authorities, wherever required in this regard.
