India tells Pak to rein in 'compulsive hostility' towards it

Geneva/New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) India today asked Pakistan to rein in its "compulsive hostility" towards it and fulfil its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of PoK, which has become a "hub" for the global export of terror.

Exercising its right to reply during a UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, the Indian Representative said Pakistan must rein in its "compulsive hostility" towards India.

"We ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of India and refrain from meddling in our internal affairs in any manner," the official said.

Once again Pakistan's delegation has chosen to misuse the Council to make fallacious references about internal matters pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, the diplomat said.

Emphasising that terrorism is the grossest violation of human rights and should be so acknowledged by any impartial and objective observer, the Indian side said a part of the territories of Jammu and Kashmir remain under the forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan.

"We also demand that Pakistan must fulfil its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)," the diplomat said.

"It is unfortunate that in recent times the people of PoK have become victims of sectarian conflict, terrorism and extreme economic hardship because of Pakistan's occupation and discriminatory policies," the Indian side said.

"The Indian state of J&K is part of a pluralistic and secular democracy, where an independent judiciary, an active media and a vibrant civil society guarantee freedoms. In contrast, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is administered by a 'deep state' and has become a hub for the global export of terror," the diplomat said.

The Indian side asserted that India does not accept attempts by Pakistan to denigrate the democratic choice that has been regularly exercised by the people of J&K over the last six decades since our independence.

"Pakistan's continued support for terror groups operating in J&K is the main challenge to protecting the human rights of our citizens in the State.

"Pakistan's selective approach in tackling terror groups operating outside Pakistan and within, despite the numerous solemn promises made underscores the continuing unwillingness to acknowledge the truth," the Indian Representative said.

The Indian side said apart from becoming "world's terrorism factory", Pakistan has alienated its own people through continued mistreatment of Hindus, Christians, Shias, Ahmadiyas and other minorities.

"In this Council, Pakistan has referred to situation of minorities in India. Minorities in India have been Prime Ministers, Presidents, Vice-Presidents, senior Cabinet Ministers, senior civil servants, cricket team captains, Bollywood superstars-can the minorities of Pakistan claim even a shadow of this? All they have are blasphemy laws and relentless abuse and violation of their human rights," the Indian side said.

EVM issue: Mayawati to move court, Kejriwal cries conspiracy

Lucknow/New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) BSP chief Mayawati today decided to move court over alleged tampering of EVMs in the recent Assembly polls, an issue which led Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal to cry conspiracy.

Kejriwal also said that before 2014 Lok Sabha polls even some BJP leaders like L K Advani were not in favour of the EVMs.

The move by Mayawati and the comments by Kejriwal evoked derision from the BJP and its ally SAD.

As the leaders of BSP and AAP raised their pitch in questioning the reliability of the EVMs, BJP said there are "some defects" in Mayawati and not in the Electronic Voting Machines(EVM).

Kejriwal faced flak from BJP ally Akali Dal whose leader and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal advised the AAP chief to go for 'vipassana', a style of meditation, instead of casting aspersions on the reliability of the voting machines.

BSP was decimated in the recent Assembly polls in UP where it finished a distant third winning 19 seats in the 403 -member House while the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) making a debut in Punjab bagged 20 seats in the 117-member Assembly. The ruling SAD-BJP combine was trounced in Punjab.

Mayawati said the BSP has decided to observe a 'black day' every month against the "murder of democracy" by the BJP and charged that the saffron victory in UP smacked of "dishonesty" and "fraud".

"After we did not get a proper reply from the Election Commission on our complaint lodged with them soon after the results were announced on March 11, the party has decided to go to court in this matter so as to save (the country) from such a fraud in the future and save democracy," she said.

The BSP leader was speaking to mediapersons in Lucknow ahead of addressing partymen at a review meeting on the party's debacle. BSP had 80 MLAs in the outgoing Assembly.

"Our party has also decided to launch an agitation in Uttar Pradesh and other states to expose this fraud...the party will observe 'black day' at all the district headquarters in UP and state headquarters in other states on the 11th of every month, the date on which they murdered democracy, and the first demonstration will be on April 11," she said.

The BSP leader, who had alleged largescale tampering in the EVMs soon after results were announced on March 11, said that in order to hide its "dishonest victory", BJP has now taken refuge in saying had that been the case they would have done the same in Punjab, Goa and Manipur.

Kejirwal said EVM tampering may have led to AAP's poor showing in Punjab, alleging it could be part of a conspiracy to keep the party out of power in the state.

The AAP chief, whose party won 20 seats in the 117-member Assembly with a vote share of 24.9 per cent, claimed that around 20 to 25 per cent of its votes may have been "transferred" to the SAD-BJP coalition.

The poll result is "beyond understanding" and raises a "big question mark" on the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs) as political pundits across the spectrum had "predicted a landslide" for AAP, he told a press conference in Delhi.

Kejriwal claimed that tampering with EVMs could have been done "selectively" in significant states like Punjab, where plans were to "keep AAP out of power". At the same time, the AAP supremo said he takes the "whole responsibility" of party's performance in the state.

The BJP ridiculed Mayawati's allegations of EVM tampering and asked her to "gracefully accept the people's mandate".

"When you win, EVMs are right. When you lose, EVMs are wrong. This shows that there are some defects in you (Mayawati)," Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters.

Harsimrat advised Kejriwal to go for 'vipassana' instead of casting aspersions on the reliability of EVMs.

Harsimrat, the wife of SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, also said the Delhi chief minister may have "lost" his mental balance following AAP's poor show in Punjab.

"He (Kejriwal) has lost his mental balance so he is saying things like this. He did not say anything when AAP had won 67 seats in Delhi," she told reporters in Delhi.

She said the people of Punjab have thrown out the AAP and it would be better if Kejriwal focuses his energy to manage the party's affairs in Delhi. "He should do vipassana.

Inter-state River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 introduced in Lok Sabha

A Revolutionary step: Uma Bharti

Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti introduced Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Lok Sabha today. Introducing the Bill the Minister called it a “Revolutionary step” towards the resolution of Inter- State River Water Disputes. 

 

Giving details of the Bill the Minister said the Bill proposes a Single Standing Tribunal (with multiple benches) instead of existing multiple tribunals, which shall consist of one Chairperson, one Vice-Chairperson and not more than six other Members. While the term of office of the Chairperson is five year or till he attains the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier, the term of office of Vice Chairperson and other member of tribunal shall be co-terminus with the adjudication of the water dispute.  

 

Sushri Bharti said the Bill also provides for the appointment of Assessors to provide technical support to the tribunal. They shall be appointed from amongst experts serving in the Central Water engineering Service not below the rank of Chief Engineer. The total time period for adjudication of dispute has been fixed at maximum of four and half years. The decision of the Tribunal shall be final and binding with no requirement of publication in the official Gazette. 

 

The Bill also proposes to introduce mechanism to resolve the dispute amicably by negotiations, through a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to be established by the Central Government consisting of relevant experts, before such dispute is referred to the tribunal. The Bill also provides for transparent data collection system at the national level for each river basin and for this purpose, an agency to maintain data-bank and information system shall be appointed or authorized by Central Government.  

 

  Inter-state river water disputes are on the rise on account of increase in water demands by the States. The Inter State Water Dispute Act, 1956 which provides the legal framework to address such disputes, suffers from many drawbacks. Under this Act, a separate Tribunal has to be established for each Inter State River Water Dispute. Only three out of eight Tribunals have given awards accepted by the States, while Tribunals like Cauvery and Ravi Beas have been in existence for over 26 and 30 years respectively without any award. Delays are on account of no time limit for adjudication by a Tribunal, no upper age limit for the Chairman or the Members, work getting stalled due to occurrence of any vacancy and no time limit for publishing the report of the Tribunal.

 

The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 proposes to streamline the adjudication of inter-state river water disputes and make the present legal and institutional architecture robust. 

Parrikar takes oath as Goa CM; to prove majority on Thursday

Panaji, Mar 14 (PTI) Manohar Parrikar, who quit as Defence Minister, was today sworn in as chief minister of Goa to head a coalition government of local allies and Independents, three days after the BJP ended up second behind the Congress in a fractured mandate.

Earlier in the day, the Congress suffered a setback in the Supreme Court which refused to stay 61-year-old Parrikar's swearing-in ceremony as sought by the party.

According to the directions of the apex court, Parrikar, who claimed to have support of 21 MLAs including 13 of the BJP, will have to prove majority on the floor of the assembly on March 16.

The decks for his swearing-in were cleared after a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar refused to grant the stay on the Congress' plea and ordered a floor test.

The bench directed that the assembly session be called at 11 AM on March 16 exclusively for holding of the floor test after swearing-in of the members.

Parrikar returned to Goa as the chief minister for the fourth time, though he could not complete full terms in his earlier stints.

He had formally staked claim to form the coalition government on Sunday, following which he got an invite from Governor Mridula Sinha to prove majority in House.

At a function held at the Raj Bhavan, the governor administered the oath of office and secrecy to Parrikar along with nine MLAs including two members of the BJP, three of the Goa Forward Party, two of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and as many Independents.

They will be allotted ministerial portfolios after the floor test.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to Parrikar on becoming the chief minister of Goa and hoped that he will take the state to new heights of progress.

Addressing reporters later, Parrikar exuded confidence that his government will last its full term.

"I would prove majority on the floor of the House on Thursday only after which the portfolios would be distributed to the ministers who are inducted in the cabinet. The day after tomorrow, the procedure of proving majority on the floor of the House would be completed," he said.

Parrikar said the regional parties have taken the lead to form this government and have requested him to head the dispensation by resigning as defence minister.

"My priority would be to retain speciality of Goa that is Goanness. The statement about the common minimum programme (CMP) would be issued within a month," he said.

The BJP leader, who is an IIT-Bombay alumnus, said they have the support of 22 MLAs in total.

"There was a speculation for last two days whether BJP really got the majority required to form the government and here we are, we have 22 legislators with us," he said.

Among the allies who took oath along with Parrikar are Ramakrishna alias Sudin Dhavalikar and Manohar Asgaonkar (both MGP), Vijai Sardesai, Jayesh Salgaoncar and Vinod Palyekar (all GFP), and Independents Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gawade.

The two BJP MLAs who were sworn in are outgoing deputy chief minister Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar.

BJP president Amit Shah along with Union ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari were present at the ceremony.

Manipur Governor asks CM O Ibobi Singh to submit resignation

Imphal, Mar 13 (PTI) Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla has asked incumbent Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh of the Congress to submit his resignation immediately, so that the process of formation of the next government can be started.

"Ibobi Singh, along with deputy chief minister Gaikhamgam and state Congress president T N Haokip, had met the Governor last night. The Governor had asked Singh to resign immediately so that she can start the process of government formation," a highly placed source in the Governor's House said.

"As per rules, until and unless the present chief minister resigns, the process of formation of the next government cannot be started," the source said.

"It was during the meeting that Ibobi Singh had staked claim to form the next government by showing a list of 28 Congress MLAs. He also claimed to have the support of four National People's Party (NPP) MLAs.

"On seeing the names of the four NPP MLAs on an ordinary piece of paper, Heptullah asked Ibobi Singh to bring the NPP president and the MLAs," the Governor House source said.

The Governor said that it was her duty to cross check the claims and that she would not accept an ordinary piece of paper as a "letter of support" unless she meets the NPP MLAs, the source said.

The BJP leadership with their 21 MLAs, along with NPP president and four party MLAs, one Congress MLA, lone LJP and TMC MLAs had also met the Governor.

The BJP had claimed that it enjoyed the support of 32 MLAs in the 60-member assembly.

They also submitted a letter from the Naga People's Front (NPF) president regarding their support to the BJP to form the government, the source said, adding that the Governor is yet to invite any party for government formation.

The Congress had won 28 seats in Manipur, followed by the BJP 21. The NPP and the NPF have won four seats each, while the LJP and the Trinamool Congress have bagged one seat each.

Meanwhile, the Congress Legislature Party meeting was underway at the Chief Minister's office where 27 MLAs were present, said Manipur state Congress general secretary Devrata Singh.

BJP may go for a relative greenhorn as U'khand CM

Dehradun, Mar 13 (PTI) The BJP today hinted that it might pick a relative greenhorn, rather than a party stalwart, for the chief minister's post in Uttarakhand where it recorded a landslide victory winning 56 of the 70 assembly seats.

Battling the problem of plenty with as many as four former chief ministers in the party's ranks besides a crop of young and promising leaders, making a choice for the top job in Uttarakhand is indeed a daunting task for the BJP.

BJP leaders here indicated that the choice will be made by the party's Parliamentary Board absolutely on the basis of the person's ability to deliver on the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the people of the state in the run-up to assembly elections.

"As a strong Modi wave is believed to have swept the party to an absolute majority in the state, whoever is finally chosen as the chief minister will have to deliver on the promise of clean and efficient governance made by the Prime Minister to the people of the state," a senior party leader said, requesting anonymity.

"The party cannot afford to take chances with a massive mandate like this. It has to meet the enormous expectations of people. And the sole parameter for choice of a chief minister will be his ability to deliver, tried or untried, old or new will not be much of a factor," he said.

The inference gains credence primarily from Modi's speech at the party headquarters in Delhi yesterday where he said that even a lesser known elected representative who may not ever have made headlines could emerge as chief minister.

Modi had also promised to people at an election rally in Uttarakhand in the last phase of campaigning that he will give them a good team which will perform under his direct supervision.

However, while it is a million dollar question in Uttarakhand at the moment as to who would get the top job, names of quite a few probables are doing the rounds including those of former CMs Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Vijay Bahuguna, besides Chaubattakhand MLA Satpal Maharaj, Doiwala MLA Trivendra Singh Rawat and Pithoragarh MLA Prakash Pant.

Given Modi's preference for relatively young faces, the contention of Khanduri, Koshiyari and Maharaj for the top office looks comparatively weak.

However, Khanduri's clean image and Koshiyari's deep RSS roots could work in their favour.

Another factor that weakens Maharaj's contention is that though his stature is big as he has also been a spiritual leader with followers in all sections, he is a new entrant to the BJP. Maharaj quit the Congress in 2014 to join the BJP.

Parrikar resigns as Defence Minister; set to don Goa CM's role

Panaji, Mar 13 (PTI) Manohar Parrikar today resigned as the Defence Minister to take over the new role as Goa Chief Minister.

"I have tendered my resignation as Defence Minister. The resignation letter has been sent to the Prime Minister's Office this morning," Parrikar told PTI today.

Goa Governor Mridula Sinha has invited Parrikar to form the next government in the coastal state after he submitted a letter of support from 21 legislators yesterday.

Parrikar, who took the BJP to victory in the 2012 Goa assembly polls, had resigned as the Chief Minister and took over as Defence Minister on November 9, 2014.

"Initially I was finding the role as Defence Minister difficult but during last two-and-a-half years I have done my job well. I have done it with full honesty," Parrikar said.

"The Defence Ministry is such a portfolio where allegations are always levelled against the minister, but during last two-and-a-half years, despite so much of procurement, there was not a single allegation against the ministry or me," he said.

Parrikar said, "If I want to sum up my achievements as Defence Minister, I can say I have worked towards boosting the morale of the forces and for better procurements." 

Parrikar pointed out that through various defence deals, the ministry saved crores of rupees as many tenders were over-quoted by the earlier central (UPA) government.

The BJP leader who spearheaded the party's campaign in Goa was tipped to be the next Chief Minister of the coastal state if party manages to form the government.

Parrikar had represented Panaji constituency in the Assembly for last four terms before being elevated as a Union minister in the Modi cabinet.

Parrikar served as the Chief Minister of the state in three terms -- 2000-2002, and 2002-2005 and later from March 2012 till November 2014.

After poll win, PM asks people to pledge to create 'new India' by 2022

Delhi, Mar 12 (PTI) A day after the massive poll victories in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today appeared to be setting his sights beyond the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as he asked the countrymen to join him in building a new India by 2022.

He asked the people to take a pledge and express their commitment to building a new India on his Narendra Modi Mobile App.

A new India is emerging, which is being powered by the strength & skills of 125 crore Indians. This India stands for development, Modi tweeted.

When we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022, we should have made an India that will make Gandhi Ji, Sardar Patel & Dr.

Babasaheb Ambedkar proud, he added.

In a statement on his website Narendramodi.in, the Prime Minister said, Together, let us build the India of our dreams so that when we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022, we have an India that will make Gandhiji, Sardar Patel and Babasaheb Ambedkar proud. 

He said, India is transforming, powered by the strength of each and every citizen of India; an India that is driven by innovation, hard work and creativity; an India characterized by peace, unity and brotherhood; and an India free from corruption, terrorism, black money and dirt. 

He also listed out a set of pledges which he wanted the countrymen to take.

Modi wanted the countrymen to pledge that they stand for a corruption-free India, that they will undertake cashless transactions, that they will dedicatedly work towards a Swachh Bharat , that they will ensure a drugs-free India.

The Prime Minister also wanted the people to pledge that they will support and encourage women-led development, that they extend complete support to an accessible India , that they will stand for an India of peace, unity and harmony and that they will be job creators, not job seekers.

This came a day after the BJP, powered by a spirited campaign by Modi, posted landslide victories in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, decimating the rivals.

BJP MLAs want Parrikar as SLP leader, MGP supports him too

Panaji, Mar 12 (PTI) Newly elected Goa BJP MLAs today unanimously backed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar as the state legislature party leader, while the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) too said it will support a government led by Parrikar.

The newly elected BJP MLAs, who met today to explore the possibility of forming government in the state, passed a resolution urging party chief Amit Shah to nominate Parrikar as leader of the legislature party.

"All the BJP legislators, except Milind Naik, whose brother expired yesterday, were present in the meeting held today," BJP MLA Michael Lobo told reporters outside the party headquarters here.

"It was unanimously resolved to request party president Amit Shah to allow Manohar Parrikar to be elected as the legislature party leader in Goa," Lobo said.

"We have already decided to forward a copy of the resolution to the party president. A letter would be written asking him to permit Parrikar to head our legislature wing," he said.

Lobo was flanked by other BJP MLAs like Pramod Sawant, Glenn Ticlo and Nilesh Cabral.

The BJP's efforts to cobble up a majority to form government in Goa received a boost as the MGP said it would extend support to the saffron party, if Parrikar is appointed as the Chief Minister.

"MGP has already extended its support while we are in discussions with Goa Forward Party and independents," Lobo said.

The MGP today passed a resolution extending support to the BJP, if it forms government under the leadership of Parrikar 

BJP won 13 seats in the state polls. Besides, it has the support of a party-backed independent MLA. The Congress, which won 17 seats, and the BJP are wooing the smaller parties to form government in the 40-member House, where the majority mark is 21. The MGP, Goa Forward and independents won three seats each while the NCP bagged one seat in the state.

"MGP unanimously passed a resolution that it will extend support to BJP if they recall Manohar Parrikar from the Centre to the state and appoint him as Chief Minister," MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar told PTI after emerging from the party's legislature wing meeting.

"The resolution is very clear. MGP will support BJP only if Manohar Parrikar is made Chief Minister. Our support is not to BJP but to Manohar Parrikar," he said.

Trade war will bring nothing but harm: China warns Trump

Beijing, Mar 11 (PTI) China today warned Donald Trump that any trade war between the two countries will bring nothing but harm amid concerns that the US President may go through with his polls promise of hiking tariffs against Chinese goods.

A trade war between China and the United States is not in line with the interests of the two countries and will bring nothing but harm, China's Commerce Minister Zhong Shan told reporters here on the sidelines of the Parliament session.

Cooperation is the "only right choice" and the two countries should work to enhance cooperation and manage differences, Zhong said, stressing that the role of economic and trade cooperation as a "ballast" and "propeller" in bilateral relations.

China is now concerned whether Trump would also act on his polls promise of rising 45 per cent tariffs against Chinese goods and declare Beijing as a currency manipulator.

He has also accused China of trying to reap more benefits from its over USD 400 billion exports to the US.

The US exports around USD 100 billion worth of goods to China.

Zhong said the two countries, whose interests are closely interwoven, have seen their economic and trade relations on the right path since they forged diplomatic ties.

"Any form of protectionism is not in line with the interests of the two countries," he said.

Zhong said he looks forward to meeting his US counterpart Wilbur Ross, who became secretary of commerce under the US' new administration late last month.

He expressed the belief that the two countries' leaders and governments will make the right judgement on bilateral trade ties, pledging efforts to guide China-US economic and trade ties in the right direction.

Zhong was appointed commerce minister to replace Gao Hucheng last month.