Headlines from today’s papers.
Modi exerts pressure on Pakistan PM regarding terror
On his first day as prime minister, Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, in which terror attacks was the main item on the agenda. Modi said that Pakistan should prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities. He asked Sharif to take the steps to expedite the trial of the people involved in the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai and to secure the conviction of the accused. Sharif, addressing a press conference after the meeting, said that the two countries must strive to change “confrontation into cooperation”. He added that he had emphasised to India that “engaging in accusations and counter-accusations would be counterproductive”.
Modi forms special team to unearth black money
In one of the first steps taken by the Modi government, a Special Investigation Team was constituted on Tuesday to track down black money. The SIT will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge MB Shah, while the vice-chairman will be another former SC judge, Arijit Pasayat. Other members are the revenue secretary, directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing and the Enforcement Directorate, the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes and a deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
BJP sets ball rolling on revoking Article 370, sparks controversy
Igniting the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s first controversy, Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh, on Tuesday suggested that the government was open to debate on Article 370, which grants a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Singh added that efforts would be made to "convince the unconvinced" on revoking the provision. Soon after the statements were made, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah responded via a tweet to note that that Article 370 was Kashmir’s “only constitutional link” to the rest of India and talk of its revocation is “not just ill-informed, it’s irresponsible”.
BJP to expand council of ministers before Budget Session: reports
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trim council of 45 ministers, 23 of whom are of the cabinet rank, is set to expand next month before the Budget Session of Parliament, according to reports in the media. The Times of India reported that the Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to induct more ministers to specifically deal with important portfolios like defence, law, and environment and forests, which are currently under finance minister Arun Jaitley, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Information & Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar. Jaitley on Tuesday confirmed that a full-time defence minister would be named soon.
Kejriwal furnishes bail bond, released from Tihar Jail
A week after he was remanded to judicial custody in a defamation case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Gadkari, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal finally decided to furnish a bail bond of Rs 10,000, after the Delhi High Court requested him to not make it a "prestige issue". The court accepted the personal bond on Tuesday and ordered his release from Tihar Jail. Kejriwal had earlier refused to furnish a bail bond, claiming that he was not guilty of any crime and should not be made to pay bail. The high court then advised Kejriwal that he could raise any legal issues he wants to once he is released from jail.
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Modi exerts pressure on Pakistan PM regarding terror
On his first day as prime minister, Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, in which terror attacks was the main item on the agenda. Modi said that Pakistan should prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities. He asked Sharif to take the steps to expedite the trial of the people involved in the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai and to secure the conviction of the accused. Sharif, addressing a press conference after the meeting, said that the two countries must strive to change “confrontation into cooperation”. He added that he had emphasised to India that “engaging in accusations and counter-accusations would be counterproductive”.
Modi forms special team to unearth black money
In one of the first steps taken by the Modi government, a Special Investigation Team was constituted on Tuesday to track down black money. The SIT will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge MB Shah, while the vice-chairman will be another former SC judge, Arijit Pasayat. Other members are the revenue secretary, directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing and the Enforcement Directorate, the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes and a deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
BJP sets ball rolling on revoking Article 370, sparks controversy
Igniting the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s first controversy, Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh, on Tuesday suggested that the government was open to debate on Article 370, which grants a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Singh added that efforts would be made to "convince the unconvinced" on revoking the provision. Soon after the statements were made, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah responded via a tweet to note that that Article 370 was Kashmir’s “only constitutional link” to the rest of India and talk of its revocation is “not just ill-informed, it’s irresponsible”.
BJP to expand council of ministers before Budget Session: reports
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trim council of 45 ministers, 23 of whom are of the cabinet rank, is set to expand next month before the Budget Session of Parliament, according to reports in the media. The Times of India reported that the Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to induct more ministers to specifically deal with important portfolios like defence, law, and environment and forests, which are currently under finance minister Arun Jaitley, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Information & Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar. Jaitley on Tuesday confirmed that a full-time defence minister would be named soon.
Kejriwal furnishes bail bond, released from Tihar Jail
A week after he was remanded to judicial custody in a defamation case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Gadkari, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal finally decided to furnish a bail bond of Rs 10,000, after the Delhi High Court requested him to not make it a "prestige issue". The court accepted the personal bond on Tuesday and ordered his release from Tihar Jail. Kejriwal had earlier refused to furnish a bail bond, claiming that he was not guilty of any crime and should not be made to pay bail. The high court then advised Kejriwal that he could raise any legal issues he wants to once he is released from jail.
