NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 14
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India, Mexico discuss elevating bilateral ties New Delhi, Mar 13: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday held a meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas during which they did a comprehensive review of the bilateral ties between the two countries and explored the possibility of elevating the relationship between the two countries to a new level. “During their meeting, the external affairs minister and the Mexican foreign minister undertook a comprehensive review of the entire gamut of bilateral relations including political, commercial and trade, financial, technical and other areas to further broaden and strengthen cooperation,” the external affairs ministry said
in a statement. It added that the ministers agreed to exchange high level visits in the near future and also discussed important regional and international issues of mutual interest. “The two ministers discussed ways and means of elevating the special relationship between India and Mexico,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup stated, adding that both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the joint commission in Mexico in the second half of this year. Swarup said that Sushma Swaraj acknowledged that the present bilateral trade volume of $6.5 billion was low and sought Mexico’s participation in flaghip programmes like Make in India, Skill India and Smart Cities.
External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj “The two ministers also discussed cooperation in a number of areas, including oil and gas, renewable energy, urban planning and the housing sector,” he said. India is the third largest importer of crude oil from Mexico. The Latin American country ranks among the
top 10 oil-producing nations and has the world’s fourth largest shale oil reserves. “The external affairs minister also mentioned that we would like Mexico’s participation in ensuring value addition and greater use of technology in our agriculture and agro-processing sec-
tors,” Swarup stated. “She also conveyed our interest in providing launch facilities for Mexican micro and nano satellites.” The spokesman said that both sides shared their respective perspectives in engaging with the diaspora. On Friday, delivering a lecture organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) here, Salinas, while stating that India has the largest diaspora and Mexico the second largest, said that her country could learn a lot from India in dealing with the diaspora. “India has a long tradition of recognising the value of its diaspora abroad for public diplomacy,” she said. In Saturday’s meeting, Sushma Swaraj and Salinas also exchanged
views on cooperation in issues relating to women’s empowerment. According to Swarup, the Mexican foreign minister also renewed the invitation extended by her country’s President Enrique Pena Nieto to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Mexico in the near future. On Friday, soon after her arrival here on a two-day visit, Salinas called on Modi. She also interacted with the private sector at a business event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Earlier on Saturday, Salinas undertook a short ride in the Delhi Metro and inaugurated a photographic exhibition called ‘Mexico Is’ at the Rajiv Chowk metro station.(Agencies)
Plan to use satellite Two upgraded ALGs inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh images to monitor New Delhi, Mar 13: In has always operated a a major fillip to Indian flying detachment from Air Force’s operational the ALG at Ziro for air projects in NE capability along border maintenance purposes. New Delhi, Mar 13: Government is planning to monitor various projects in Northeast through satellite images. Satellite images using space technology can be effectively used for planning and evaluating the progress of various developmental projects in North Eastern states, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh said at a meeting of here on saturday. Considering the fact that the Department of Space already has its establishment in Shillong by the name North-Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC), this should not be a difficult proposition, he said. Singh issued directions for conducting a meeting of the officials of Space Department and the DoNER Ministry at an early date and work out a plan as to how to go about this plan. The Minister said the North East, with its difficult topography and constraints of accessibility, of-
fers an ideal case for using satellite images of roads and other construction works for their precise assessment. The Lat-Long (Latitude and Longitude) images obtained from satellites can also help in verification of the reports regarding the completion of work obtained through other means by actually picking up the precise location at which the work has been done, he said. Secretary DoNER Naveen Verma made a detailed presentation focusing on Northeast where he said about Rs 500 crore havs been earmarked in the current union budget for installing solar pumps in Eastern and North-Eastern India. Referring to the DoNER Minister’s suggestion to offer incentives to youth who opt for startup initiatives in North East, Verma said the Department is working on different options including venture fund, offering 30 per cent of loss to be borne by the Ministry. (Agencies)
'Mistake to allow Pak team in India as ISI comes as spectators': Swamy New Delhi, Mar 13: Backing Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's statement that cricket matches with Pakistan should not be allowed to continue while bombs are being hurled at the security forces at the border, BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy today said that it was a big mistake on the part of the Indian Government to allow the Shahid Afridi-led team to participate in the ICC World Twenty20. "I agree with Uddhav. It was a mistake to allow them here. We should have that cricket match in Sri Lanka, Dhaka or Maldives or somewhere else. But in India, the problem is when Pakistan cricket team comes then all kinds of ISI people also come in the name of spectators," Swamy told ANI. "I think the Prime Minister should take a call and should see that no matches take place with Pakistan until the issue of terrorism is resolved," he added. Lauding Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for opposing the India-Pakistan World T20 match in Dharamsala, Thackeray compared cricket balls with bombs, saying that both cannot take place at the same time. Asserting that sports and politics should be kept apart, Pakistan skipper
Shahid Afridi today admitted that his side have not received so much love and affection from their own country as they have got in India. Talking to the media ahead of their warm-up game against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens on Monday, Afridi said that he has always enjoyed playing the game in India. "There are very few nations where I have enjoyed playing cricket as much as I have enjoyed in India. I will always remember the love that I and my entire team have got from the Indian fans. We didn't get so much of love in Pakistan as we have got in India," Afridi said. "I think cricket had helped in bringing the two nations closer. So, I think that sports and politics should be kept apart," he added. Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team yesterday arrived at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (NSCB) International Airport in Kolkata after getting a green signal from Islamabad to take part in the ICC pinnacle event. The ICC has already moved Pakistan's group match against India to Kolkata on March 19 due to security concerns in Dharamsala. (ANI)
with China, two upgraded advanced landing grounds at Ziro and Along in Arunachal Pradesh were today inaugurated. “The ALGs will further enhance our existing operational capabilities in Eastern Air Command,” Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command said. He added that the new capacity build-up will enable operations by some of the force’s new inductions including the C-130J Super Hercules. “Besides enhancing air maintenance capability of the IAF in the region, the new airfield will also facilitate civil air connectivity soon,” the Air Marshal said. Vayudoot Airlines once operated from Ziro airfield in the mid-eighties. Subsequently, the IAF
The runway surface at Ziro saw a steady deterioration over a period of time due to lack of maintenance and other issues. Encroachment due to absence of a security wall further added to the declining status of the airfield. Air Marshal, C Hari Kumar There was, however, always a need to connect the beautiful valley of Ziro with rest of the country by air, for tourism as well as other purposes. The IAF took over the Ziro airfield from AAI in August 2010. Consequent to the CCS approval in June 2009, the IAF embarked on an ambitious reconstruction plan to upgrade the existing eight ALGs, including infrastructure development at certain airbases in EAC’s area of responsibility.
The ALGs for upgradation include Tuting, Mechuka, Along, Tawang, Ziro, Pasighat, Walong and Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh. The outlay plan for the upgradation of ALGs alone is nearly Rs 1,000 crore. Besides IAF, which operates all year round, Pawan Hans also operates helicopters from here during non-monsoon periods. With the inauguration of the ALGs at Ziro and Along, altogether three ALGs have since got upgraded with paved run-
way surfaces and other facilities such as aprons for ground manoeuvring, Air Traffic Control tower with associated infrastructure including perimeter road and a security wall. Three more ALGs — Mechuka, Pasighat, Tuting – are scheduled to be inaugurated in the next three months. The ALG project at Tawang, which was taken up only in 2014, is ongoing and is expected to be ready by September this year. (Agencies)
Non-bailable warrant issued against Vijay Mallya
Vijay Mallya and A Raghunath New Delhi, Mar 13: A Hyderabad Court has issued non-bailable warrants against Vijay Mallya and defunct company Kingfisher Airlines' Chief Financial Officer A Raghunath and directed that the duo should be produced before the court on April 13. The decision in this regard was pronounced by 14th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate GS Ramesh Kumar. The warrants were issued on March 10 after GMR Hyderabad International Airport filed a petition seeking Mallya's prosecution for defaulting on payments and cheating the company by issuing cheques that bounced. Mallya, who is currently in the United Kingdom and is being sought out in India over charges of money laundering, claimed in an e-mail interview with the Sunday Guardian that the banks gave him loans after evaluating all aspects, adding he is not trying to evade the law enforcement agencies but is on a personal visit. The business tycoon said he feels that he has already been branded a criminal in the country and, therefore, it was not the right time for him to return. "There was a lookout notice issued against me last year. But I didn't 'escape'. Why am I being portrayed as a criminal
now? Loan defaults are a business matter. When the banks give out loans, they know the risk involved. They decide we don't. Our own business was flourishing, but plummeted suddenly. Don't make me the villain. I have the best intentions. I'm quiet because I fear my words will be twisted like of others," he said. The government had earlier told the Supreme Court that Mallya had left India on March 2 following which the bench issued notice to him and sought his response within two weeks on pleas filed by a consortium of banks seeking direction for freezing his passport and his presence before the apex court. Meanwhile, the Congress has asserted that the liquor baron was 'made to abscond' since a lot of 'powerful' people would be in trouble if he opened his mouth. Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Manish Tewari said that it was not as if Mallya had escaped or absconded but he was 'allowed' to leave the country. "The reason why Mallya was allowed to abscond is because if he is investigated or if he decides to open his mouth, a lot of very powerful people in this county will be without their clothes," he added. (ANI)
BJP sees red, Green nod for 900 projects in 20 months: Javadekar seeks apology Mumbai, Mar 13: Environmental clearance has been given to 900 projects worth Rs 6 lakh crore in the last 20 months, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Saturday, seeking to counter criticism that several projects have been bogged down due to lack of green nod. Asserting that environmental clearance should not be a “roadblock” for development, Javadekar said that every effort should be made to safeguard the environment and also ensure that development projects do not suffer any delay. “In the last 20 months, my ministry has given environmental clearance to 900 projects entailing an investment of about Rs 6 lakh crore,” he said at the National Convention on Sustainable Development Goals here. Opposition parties and environmentalists have been accusing the Narendra Modi government of not proceeding on several projects for want of environmental clearances. Dismissing such criticism, the government has claimed that the earlier UPA regime was re-
Prakash Javadekar sponsible for stalling projects which were now getting green nod at a fast pace. Squarely blaming the developed countries for carbon emissions and its fallout on climate change, he said,”Climate change is a reality with one degree rise in temperature caused by 150 years of uncontrolled carbon emission by the developed world.” He said though India is responsible for just three per cent of carbon emissions, it is an active partner in finding solution to the problem of climate change and committed to the UN goals on sustainable development. He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on cli-
mate change that “though India is not part of the problem, it wants to be part of the solution.” While 30 per cent of cumulative contribution was that of the US, Europe, Canada and other developed countries accounted for 50 per cent and China 10 per cent. (PTI) “The developed world went ahead with business as usual scenario without bothering about environmental impact. Now it has happened, and we are suffering,” he said. India being well-aware of its responsibilities was committed to UN Goals on sustainable development, he said, adding, “Our commitment is reflected in every programme be-
ing pursued by the government.” He listed out Government’s ambitious 175 Giga Watt renewable energy programme, covering solar, wind, hydropower and nuclear energy as a major step in promoting environment friendly development. India had taken pro-active measures to discourage use of fossil fuels in a bid to reduce carbon foot print, he said. “The Union Budget 2016-17 has levied a green cess of USD 6 (Rs 400) per tonne of coal. This is perhaps the highest levy in the world, as even the United States taxes coal at around USD 1. “If the developed world followed India’s example and levied higher taxes on coal, billions of dollars would accrue to pursue clean energy programmes,” Javadekar said. He also listed out plans to control vehicular pollution by moving to Bharat VI emission norms, policies on waste management and massive tree plantation drive through the Compensatory Afforestaton Fund Bill 2015 as other measures aimed at sustainable development. (Agencies)
New Delhi, Mar 13: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday kicked a row after he sought to draw a parallel between RSS and terrorist outfit ISIS, evoking sharp responses from the Hindutva outfit and BJP, which demanded an apology from him. “So, we oppose organisations like ISIS, the way we oppose RSS. If those among us in Islam too do wrong things, they are no way less than RSS,” the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said at an event organised by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. Hitting back, a RSS spokesperson in Nagaur, where a crucial meeting of the organisation’s functionaries is on, said such a comparison showed “intellectual bankruptcy” of Congress and its “unwillingness to deal with fundamentalist and cruel forces like ISIS”. RSS will consider legal action against Azad, he said. BJP too jumped to the defence of its ideological mentor, calling it a nationalist organisation and demanding an apology from Azad. The party said it was “unfortunate” that Azad had made such comments and
asked Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to disassociate from his remarks and take action against him if he does not withdraw them. “RSS is a nationalist organisation. It is very unfortunate that he has said so. It shows his mental bankruptcy. He must apologise or Gandhi should take action against him,” party National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said. He said a number of Congress leaders, ( including Jawahar Lal Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi, had tried to repress the organisation but it has only emerged “stronger”. BJP also termed as “politically motivated” Gandhi’s written message to the same event that the country was passing through a “critical phase” as those in power are “spreading hatred” by targeting secularism. “She is speaking against what her party has always practiced. Congress divided nation along caste, religion and regional lines. She should not be preaching BJP,” Sharma said, accusing the party of “supporting” anti-national elements for political reasons, a reference to the JNU row.(Agencies)