Government is alienating allies, former Union Minister says
Former Union Minister Arun Shourie on Friday criticised the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre over its economic policies, calling them directionless. “Government is more concerned about managing headlines than putting policies in place,” Shourie said. He accused Modi, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah of monopolising decision-making processes. Shourie said that government decisions were now centralised to the Prime Minister’s Office, adding that they lacked “expertise and talent quotient”. He further stated that the government was alienating its allies through its plans for political expansion. However, he praised Modi for his handling of the India's foreign policy, saying that the Prime Minister had recognised the challenge posed to the country by China.
Death toll in Nepal quake reaches 6,250
The death toll due to the earthquake which struck Nepal on April 25 reached 6,250, the country’s government said on Friday. Over 14,350 people had been injured due to the quake, the government said. Local officials stated that many of the dead could be migrant workers from India. Up to 1000 European citizens were also unaccounted for around popular trekking routes in the country, a delegation of the European Union claimed. However, the EU’s Ambassador to Nepal stated that it did not mean that they were all dead. “They could have left the country without telling anyone before the earthquake struck,” said Rensje Teerink. Meanwhile, rescuers are still struggling to clear debris and search for survivors in various parts of the country. The country's government said that it would give $1,000 each to the families of those killed and an additional $400 for funeral costs.
Baba Ramdev responds to allegations against fertility drug
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Friday responded to claims made by opposition members in Parliament that the name of a fertility drug marketed by his company promoted the conception that it helped in conceiving a male child. “MPs who have no clue about Ayurveda should be ashamed and should apologise to the nation,” Ramdev said. “The medicine does not say anywhere that it helps in producing a son,”. Ramdev stated that the name of the medicine, Putrajeevak Beej, had been derived from Putranjiva roxburghii Wall, the herb from which the medicine was manufactured. He also promised to add a disclaimer on the packaging of the medicine to clear any misconception. He said that the controversy over the name of the medicine was being used to malign the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Black money bill to be tabled in Parliament next week, says Arun Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that a bill to tackle black money being stashed abroad would be tabled in Parliament next week. Jaitley said that the Central government had taken various steps to unearth the undisclosed income being stashed by individuals and companies. “There are a large number of cases and prosecutions against those offenders have been filed in the last few months,” Jaitley said, adding that over 121 cases had been filed by the country’s tax department. “Gone are the days where offences would go undetected,” he said. The proposed Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill 2015 provides for a prison sentence of up to 10 years for individuals and entities convicted of placing unaccounted funds abroad.
Supreme Court stays defamation proceedings against Kejriwal
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed proceedings in two criminal defamation cases filed against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. A two-judge bench of the court said that it would hear the cases along with pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to defamation. “It is a pre-Constitution law,” the bench said. “It has to be examined whether it offends the provisions of the Constitution.” The plea will be heard on July 8. While one case was filed by Amit Sibal, the son of former telecom minister Kapil Sibal, the second case was filed by former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s ex-political secretary, Pawan Khera. Last month, the court had also stayed proceedings against Kejriwal in separate defamation cases filed by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and advocate Surender Kumar Sharma. It also ordered the Central government to respond to Kejriwal’s plea challenging the criminalisation of defamation.
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Former Union Minister Arun Shourie on Friday criticised the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre over its economic policies, calling them directionless. “Government is more concerned about managing headlines than putting policies in place,” Shourie said. He accused Modi, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah of monopolising decision-making processes. Shourie said that government decisions were now centralised to the Prime Minister’s Office, adding that they lacked “expertise and talent quotient”. He further stated that the government was alienating its allies through its plans for political expansion. However, he praised Modi for his handling of the India's foreign policy, saying that the Prime Minister had recognised the challenge posed to the country by China.
Death toll in Nepal quake reaches 6,250
The death toll due to the earthquake which struck Nepal on April 25 reached 6,250, the country’s government said on Friday. Over 14,350 people had been injured due to the quake, the government said. Local officials stated that many of the dead could be migrant workers from India. Up to 1000 European citizens were also unaccounted for around popular trekking routes in the country, a delegation of the European Union claimed. However, the EU’s Ambassador to Nepal stated that it did not mean that they were all dead. “They could have left the country without telling anyone before the earthquake struck,” said Rensje Teerink. Meanwhile, rescuers are still struggling to clear debris and search for survivors in various parts of the country. The country's government said that it would give $1,000 each to the families of those killed and an additional $400 for funeral costs.
Baba Ramdev responds to allegations against fertility drug
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Friday responded to claims made by opposition members in Parliament that the name of a fertility drug marketed by his company promoted the conception that it helped in conceiving a male child. “MPs who have no clue about Ayurveda should be ashamed and should apologise to the nation,” Ramdev said. “The medicine does not say anywhere that it helps in producing a son,”. Ramdev stated that the name of the medicine, Putrajeevak Beej, had been derived from Putranjiva roxburghii Wall, the herb from which the medicine was manufactured. He also promised to add a disclaimer on the packaging of the medicine to clear any misconception. He said that the controversy over the name of the medicine was being used to malign the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Black money bill to be tabled in Parliament next week, says Arun Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that a bill to tackle black money being stashed abroad would be tabled in Parliament next week. Jaitley said that the Central government had taken various steps to unearth the undisclosed income being stashed by individuals and companies. “There are a large number of cases and prosecutions against those offenders have been filed in the last few months,” Jaitley said, adding that over 121 cases had been filed by the country’s tax department. “Gone are the days where offences would go undetected,” he said. The proposed Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill 2015 provides for a prison sentence of up to 10 years for individuals and entities convicted of placing unaccounted funds abroad.
Supreme Court stays defamation proceedings against Kejriwal
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed proceedings in two criminal defamation cases filed against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. A two-judge bench of the court said that it would hear the cases along with pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to defamation. “It is a pre-Constitution law,” the bench said. “It has to be examined whether it offends the provisions of the Constitution.” The plea will be heard on July 8. While one case was filed by Amit Sibal, the son of former telecom minister Kapil Sibal, the second case was filed by former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s ex-political secretary, Pawan Khera. Last month, the court had also stayed proceedings against Kejriwal in separate defamation cases filed by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and advocate Surender Kumar Sharma. It also ordered the Central government to respond to Kejriwal’s plea challenging the criminalisation of defamation.