India says evidence not presented properly
The Islamabad High Court on Friday ordered the release of top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, describing his detention as illegal. Lakhvi was jailed in 2009 for allegedly plotting the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008. The Pakistan government had also filed charges against him for kidnapping an Afghan national. Lakhvi had been granted bail in December by an anti-terrorism court. However, he was arrested again under the Maintenance of Public Order Act. India's Home Ministry complained that overwhelming evidence against the LeT leader had not been presented properly. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit to lodge a protest about the move.
Modi urges security cooperation during Lanka visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for improved security coordination between India and Sri Lanka, signing four agreements during his visit to the nation on Friday. "A future of prosperity requires a strong foundation of security for our countries and peace and stability in the region," he told the Sri Lankan assembly. "We should expand the maritime security cooperation between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives to include others in the Indian Ocean area." The agreements included visa and customs agreements, as well as treaties relating to youth development.
Parrikar hints at new post to integrate defence services
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday hinted that a new position, the Chief of Defence Staff, will be created to head the three armed services. Parrikar said that an announcement about this would be made in the next two to three months. The post will have a fixed tenure. Parrikar emphasised the need for the forces to work out a more structured procedure for coordinating with each other. "I am not criticising but force integration and requirement integration as well as overlapping will save us money," he said. "With overlapping, number of items will be reduced.”
Finance Ministry official arrested for leaking documents
A Finance Ministry official was arrested on Friday by the Central Bureau of Investigation for leaking confidential documents to interested parties. The official, Ram Niwas, was arrested even as the Bureau conducted raids on two places in Mumbai and recovered several files. Another man, Paresh Buddhadev was also arrested for possessing leaked documents. The raids are part of an ongoing crackdown on document leaks from the Union Finance and Corporate Ministries. The CBI on Thursday conducted eight raids, which resulted in the arrests of two other ministry officers and a chartered accountant from Mumbai.
Sharad Yadav’s comments on South Indian women sparkscontroversy
Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav on Friday invited controversy in the Rajya Sabha by saying that the bodies of South Indian women were as good as their looks because of to their dancing skills. Yadav made the statements during a debate on the insurance Bill. Members of both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress condemned his remarks, calling them sexist and racist. Yadav, however, defended his statements by saying, "I was just praising the figure of women from that part of country. It is due to their dancing skills. We praise beauty of people whether they are men and women”. But JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi tendered an apology for Yadav's remarks on behalf of the party.
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The Islamabad High Court on Friday ordered the release of top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, describing his detention as illegal. Lakhvi was jailed in 2009 for allegedly plotting the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008. The Pakistan government had also filed charges against him for kidnapping an Afghan national. Lakhvi had been granted bail in December by an anti-terrorism court. However, he was arrested again under the Maintenance of Public Order Act. India's Home Ministry complained that overwhelming evidence against the LeT leader had not been presented properly. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit to lodge a protest about the move.
Modi urges security cooperation during Lanka visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for improved security coordination between India and Sri Lanka, signing four agreements during his visit to the nation on Friday. "A future of prosperity requires a strong foundation of security for our countries and peace and stability in the region," he told the Sri Lankan assembly. "We should expand the maritime security cooperation between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives to include others in the Indian Ocean area." The agreements included visa and customs agreements, as well as treaties relating to youth development.
Parrikar hints at new post to integrate defence services
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday hinted that a new position, the Chief of Defence Staff, will be created to head the three armed services. Parrikar said that an announcement about this would be made in the next two to three months. The post will have a fixed tenure. Parrikar emphasised the need for the forces to work out a more structured procedure for coordinating with each other. "I am not criticising but force integration and requirement integration as well as overlapping will save us money," he said. "With overlapping, number of items will be reduced.”
Finance Ministry official arrested for leaking documents
A Finance Ministry official was arrested on Friday by the Central Bureau of Investigation for leaking confidential documents to interested parties. The official, Ram Niwas, was arrested even as the Bureau conducted raids on two places in Mumbai and recovered several files. Another man, Paresh Buddhadev was also arrested for possessing leaked documents. The raids are part of an ongoing crackdown on document leaks from the Union Finance and Corporate Ministries. The CBI on Thursday conducted eight raids, which resulted in the arrests of two other ministry officers and a chartered accountant from Mumbai.
Sharad Yadav’s comments on South Indian women sparkscontroversy
Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav on Friday invited controversy in the Rajya Sabha by saying that the bodies of South Indian women were as good as their looks because of to their dancing skills. Yadav made the statements during a debate on the insurance Bill. Members of both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress condemned his remarks, calling them sexist and racist. Yadav, however, defended his statements by saying, "I was just praising the figure of women from that part of country. It is due to their dancing skills. We praise beauty of people whether they are men and women”. But JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi tendered an apology for Yadav's remarks on behalf of the party.
