26 INDIA
AsianVoiceNews
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5 - 11 January 2019
Govt not considering ordinance on Ram temple: Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hinted that the government is not considering an early ordinance to facilitate construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He said the judicial process should take its own course even as he blamed previous Congress governments for stalling a resolution. In an exclusive interview to a media source, he said, “In court, Congress lawyers, who are obstacles, should stop. Let the judicial process take its own course. Don't weigh it in political terms. Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever our responsibility as the government, we are ready to make all efforts.” When asked whether an ordinance was not possible as in the case of making triple talaq punishable, he said, “Triple talaq ordinance was brought after the SC verdict and in light of the SC verdict. We have said in our BJP manifesto that a solution would be found... Nobody can deny that those sitting in government in the last 70 years have tried their best to stall a solution.” Modi addressed several issues in the interview; also speaking up on former RBI governor Urjit Patel's resignation for the first time. He said Patel quit due to personal reasons and had told him about it months ago. He also rejected the Opposition's charge that Patel was forced to resign due to differences with the Centre on several issues, including the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi answering questions during an interview with Smita Prakash
transfer of RBI's surplus reserves. The PM spoke on the Sohrabuddin case, slamming Congress and citing that the court's order for a CBI inquiry into the case was a bid to falsely implicate political leaders. He rebutted the charge that his government was misusing probe agencies for political gain. “Read the judgment. See how institutions are misused,” he said. Speaking
about the coming Lok Sabha elections, he said it was between the “janata (people)” and the opposition alliance (Mahagathbandhan). “Their single-point agenda is Modi. Do this to Modi, that to Modi... Take any 10 pages of a newspaper, 10 leaders of (this) alliance in different voices abuse Modi.” “I leave it to the people to decide whether they are satisfied or not with my work” and
emphasised his “outsider” credentials in Lutyens' Delhi. “I could neither make the Lutyens' world a part of me... I am a representative of the non-elite world... There is honesty in my work, I work for the people.” NaMo also lashed out at the Gandhis, stating the Congress as a party promoted casteism, dynastic politics and nepotism. When asked about high-profile accused walking scot-free despite his promise of a crackdown on corruption, Modi said, “They are on bail... it is a fact that those considered the first family, who ran the country for four generations, are out on bail, that too for financial irregularities... A set of people, who are at their service, are trying to suppress such information and push other narratives.” Modi sought to beat back opposition attacks that the country was slipping and the government had underperformed. He pointed to gains like electrification of villages, launch of Ayushman Bharat, a UN award for climate change redressal and gains in the field of sports and Isro’s feat in placing 100 satellites in orbit. On criticism that demonetisation was a shock to the system, Modi said it was first necessary to consider whether the measure was needed. He said the rate of growth of cash as a ratio of GDP has slowed and there is awareness against black money and the need for transparency.
AgustaWestland middleman names Sonia Gandhi, ED tells court The Enforce Directorate (ED) has claimed that alleged middleman of the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, Christian Michel named a certain “Mrs Gandhi” during his interrogation. The counsel representing the probe agency made the revelation before the Patiala House Court over the weekend, while seeking an eight day custody of Michel. The court extended his custody for another week. An ED lawyer told the court that the extradited businessman was in touch with one Mrs Gandhi and “the son of the Italian lady” and how he is going to become “the next prime minister of the country”. The reference may
Christian Michel
be at Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. However, no clarifications
have been made on the individuals Michel mentioned while in Ed custody. The counsel also claimed that Michel has told the agency how HAL was removed from deal to be replaced by Tata. ED also asked that Michel's lawyer should not be allowed to meet him, claiming that he was being “tutored from outside”. They told the court that Michel handed over a piece of paper to his lawyer Aljo K Joseph during the meeting, which when checked, had questions about Gandhi asked during the interrogation. Michel is a British national and an established arms dealer who allegedly helped
Former Mumbai sheriff Nana Chudasama dies at 85 after brief illness Former Mumbai sheriff and noted jurist Nana Chudasama died on December 23, following a brief illness at the age of 85. Born in Saurashtra, Gujarat, he was prominently known for his social work. A family member said, “He was unwell for last some days. He passed away at his home in Colaba.” Nana carried out social services through his NGOs like I Love Mumbai, the National Kidney Foundation, and the Forum Against Drugs and Aids. He was known for his succinct messages and comments on important issues of the day displayed through banners put up above a popular pizza joint in south Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor C Vidyasagar Rao condoled Chudasama's death and lauded him for his socio-cultural initiatives in
Nana Chudasama
Mumbai. Fadnavis said, “Chudasama was truly connected to citizens with several NGOs and has always supported the
activities. His two liner message board at the Marine Drive was a reflection of his personality.” While Rao said, “The contribution of Nana Chudasama to Mumbai's socio-economic and cultural life was of a high order. He was among the foremost champions of a clean and green Mumbai.” He said Nana was a conscience keeper of the financial capital. “Through his initiative I Love Mumbai, he organised plant shows and promoted tree plantation. Through his popular banners on the Marine Drive, he commented upon the paradoxes of public life and polity in a humourous way.” He was awarded with a Padma Shri as recognition of his work in the social sector. His daughter Shaina NC is a BJP spokesperson.
Italian defence company Finmeccanica's AgustaWestland to bag the February 2010 deal for 12 AW101 choppers. The ED's chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, accusing him of receiving 30 million euros or about £22.5 million from the helicopter manufacturer for bribing Indian bureaucrats, politicians and Indian Air Force officials. Michel's diaries, seized by the Italian police and later handed over to the CBI, reveal he might have paid 6 million euros to Indian Air Force (IAF) officers, 8.4 million to bureaucrats in addition to 15-16 million to an unidentified political family.
3 Indians to be sent to space in £1 bn plan Giving a boost to India’s maiden human space flight programme, the Cabinet has approved £1 billion for the Gaganyaan project, whose 2022 deadline was fixed by PM Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2018. “We will send a three-member crew to space for seven days. It will be in collaboration with industry, academia, scientific agencies, labs and stakeholders along with Isro. We’ll try to launch the first test-flight demonstration within 40 months after the budget approval,” law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. The manned mission will help India become the fourth nation after Russia, US and China to send humans to space. Isro chairman K Sivan said, “Isro has taken up the challenge and we will meet the PM’s 2022 deadline. We have been (informally) working on the project for the past four months.’’