Manmohan hails GST passage

New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today hailed the passage of GST bills by Parliament and sought to play down the fact that it could not happen during his tenure, saying "let bygones be bygones".

Observing that the new indirect tax regime could be a "game-changer", he, however, cautioned that there could be "difficulties" in its implementation.

He pressed for constructive cooperation between the Centre and the states in resolving outstanding issues.

"There will be pitfalls. But we learn as we go along," he told reporters after Parliament approved four GST-supporting legislations, clearing the decks for the rollout of the historic indirect tax regime from July 1.

Asked whether he felt disappointed that it could not happen during his tenure, the former Prime Minister said, "well I think, let bygones be bygones."

On whether the measure would help increase the GDP, he said, "it could be a game-changer but we should not assume that there will be no difficulties on the way. There must be a constructive spirit of cooperation between the federal government and the states to resolve the outstanding issues." 

The Central GST Bill, 2017; The Integrated GST Bill, 2017; The GST (Compensation to States) Bill, 2017; and The Union Territory GST Bill, 2017 were returned by the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote as all parties were on board.

Trump urged to raise Tibet and human rights issues with Xi

Washington, Apr 5 (PTI) A bipartisan group of lawmakers have urged US President Donald Trump to raise the issue of human rights violations in China in particular those related to Tibet when he meets his Chinese counterpart this week.

Simultaneously, influential US lawmakers have introduced legislations in both House of Representatives and the Senate to promote access by Americans to Tibetan areas, which is routinely denied by Chinese authorities.

The Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Marco Rubio and Tammy Baldwin, while in the House of Representatives it was introduced by Congressmen Jim McGovern and Randy Hultgren.

Trump will host his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida from April 6 to 7.

"The crackdown on civil society and deterioration of rule of law in China in the past few years appears to signal a systematic effort by Chinese Communist Party leadership to tighten its controls on free expression and undermine the will of its own people," Senator Ben Cardin and Rubio wrote in a joint letter to the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

They said the US should not simply stand idly by as these universal rights are abrogated and the Chinese people suffer the consequences. A failure of US leadership on these issues is not a good message for the United States to send to China, its allies in the region, and the world, they said.

"We hope you will urge China to do more to improve the cultural and spiritual plight of Tibetans, not just their economic status...Just like in Tibet, China appears unwilling to comply with its international human rights commitments in Xinjiang, where Uighurs continue to report systemic torture, and restrictions on religious freedom," they said.

In a statement, McGovern said America needs to stand up for human rights at home and abroad.

"If the US is serious about protecting human rights in Tibet, we need to do more than talk the talk we need to walk the walk. This bill will ensure there are consequences for China's repressive policies," McGovern said.

"The Chinese government's oppression of Tibet includes keeping it off limits to Americans, journalists and others who can shine a bright light on the human rights violations committed daily against the Tibetan people," said Rubio, chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

"We should not accept a double standard where Chinese officials can freely visit anywhere in the US while they block our diplomats, journalists and Tibetan-Americans from visiting Tibet," he said, adding that the bipartisan bill will hold China accountable for its oppression and make it clear that if Chinese officials want to enjoy the privilege of entering the US, they must allow equal access to Tibet.

Welcoming the Congressional legislation, Matteo Mecacci, president of International Campaign for Tibet, said this bill is another example of the consistent support the US Congress has for Tibet.

India never used me against China: Dalai Lama amid Chinese protests

Bomdila (Arunachal Pradesh), Apr 5 (PTI) Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today emphatically said India has never used him against China, remarks that came amid loud protests by Beijing against his ongoing visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

The Dalai also urged China to give Tibet meaningful "self-rule" and "autonomy".

The remarks by the 81-year-old Nobel Laureate came on a day when China alleged that India in disregard to its concerns "obstinately" arranged his visit to the "disputed part" of the eastern part of China-India border, causing "serious damage" to its interests and bilateral relations.

"India has never used me against China. I am a messenger of the ancient Indian thought and I talk about ahimsa, peace, harmony and secular ethics wherever I go," he said talking to reporters here on the second day of his week-long visit to the remote northeastern state.

His remarks also came against the backdrop of criticism by the Chinese state media that India is using the Dalai Lama as a diplomatic leverage to challenge China's "bottom line".

Unfazed by Beijing s objections to his visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the Dalai said, "Many Chinese love India but there are some narrow minded politicians as I have mentioned, they consider me as a demon."

Articulating the Tibetan stand, the Dalai said, "We are not seeking independence. we are willing to remain within the People's Republic of China."

"I always admire the spirit of the European Union.

Individual nations' sovereignty is important but that's not so important. What is important is the common interests.

"So for material development to remain with the People's Republic of China is in our interest. So, the Chinese government also should feel ok. At the same time the Chinese government should give us meaningful self-role/autonomy," he said.

The Dalai thanked Indian government for letting him visit the frontier state.

He spoke fondly of Arunachal Pradesh and said he had a special connection with the state as it served as his point of entry when he arrived in India in 1959.

"I would like to thank the government of India. I have been in this country since 1959. India has taken great care of me. I am their longest staying guest. I am thankful to them.

"When I got freedom, when I first reached India, I entered through Arunanchal Pradesh. I have an emotional connect with the state. It is a special place for me."

He gave a discourse at Buddha Park here this morning.

The spriritual leader had arrived here last evening from Guwahati accompanied by state Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

Tomorrow, he would impart teachings at Dirang and confer the 'Avalokiteshvara Permission' at Thupsung Dhargyeling Monastery in the morning.

From April 8 to 10, the Dalai will deliver discourses in Tawang. Owing to the rescheduled visit, he would not be able to go to Itanagar.

"I am a Buddhist. The entire Himalayan range had been traditionally following Buddhist dharma and modern physics is based on Buddhist philosophy.

Amitabh Bachchan inaugurates new CBFC office

Mumbai, Apr 4 (PTI) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan today inaugurated the new office of Central Board of Film Certification along with a host of other celebrities like Anupam Kher, Ramesh Sippy and others.

CBFC was facing space constraint in their old office in Malabar Hill, which has been there since 1950s. The board then moved a proposal for allocation of space in Films Division Complex in Peddar Road and got an office there on the ninth floor.

Bachchan was the chief guest at the event while I&B Secretary Ajay Mittal was the guest of honour.

Present at the inaugural ceremony were celebrities like Raveena Tandon, Mukesh Bhatt, filmmaker Abbas-Mustan, Sonu Sood, Vipul Shah, producer Sidharth Roy Kapoor, Boney Kapoor among others.

"The censor board has been very supportive to me and my upcoming film 'Maatr'. I was a chairman of CFSI (Children Film Society India) and my office was here too," Raveena told reporters.

Sippy quipped though the board has moved to a new office, filmmakers will continue with their complaints as and when they have any.

"I am happy that the board is now also going digital, ushering new changes. We all need that and it is a step in the right direction," Sippy said.

India, UK to contribute 120 mn pound each to green energy fund

New Delhi, Apr 4 (PTI) India and the UK today decided to contribute 120 million pound each to a fund to finance clean energy projects here, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.

The Green Growth Equity Fund will be a sub-fund of NIIF.

"We have established the NIIF. Our first major step in the fund has been taken and there is going to be a sub-fund.

With the NIIF participating in it, this is going to be a Green Growth Equity Fund where both are going to make a contribution of 120 million pound each and this will be financing the energy needs in India," Jaitley said.

In 2015, India had set up the Rs 40,000-crore National Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF) to finance greenfield as well as brownfield projects.

"This is going to be the first a major beginning as far as the fund is concerned," Jaitley said while addressing the media after the 9th India-UK Financial Dialogue.

During the meeting between Jaitley and the visiting UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to invest up to 120 million pound each in the joint fund which aims to raise around 500 million pound.

The fund will focus initial investments in India's rapidly growing energy and renewables market and a "fund manager would be selected by autumn".

"Progress will be accelerated by starting the process of appointing a fund manager now with early market engagement via the publication of a blueprint with the aim to identify additional and complementary sectors for fund investments," said the joint statement after the meeting of the two ministers.

India reiterates position of bilateral redressal of Indo-Pak issues

New Delhi, Apr 4 (PTI) India today made it clear that its position of bilateral redressal of all India-Pakistan issues has not changed, in a veiled snub to the US which suggested that it may "find its place" in efforts to de-escalate Indo- Pak tensions.

"Government's position for bilateral redressal of all India-Pakistan issues in an environment free of terror and violence hasn't changed.

"We of course expect international community and organisations to enforce international mechanisms and mandates concerning terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which continues to be the single biggest threat to peace and stability in our region and beyond," the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said.

He was responding to a query on remarks of US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley that the American administration was "concerned about the relationship between India and Pakistan and very much wants to see how we de-escalate any sort of conflict going forward".

Govt clears proposal to buy Barak missiles for Navy

New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI) The government on Monday approved procurement of a fresh batch of Barak surface-to-air missiles for Naval warships to enhance India's maritime capability in view of the changing security dynamics in the Indian Ocean region

A meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, approved capital acquisition proposals totalling over INR 860 crore, including for the purchase of Barak missiles

The missiles will be procured under 'Buy Global' category from Rafael Advance Defense Systems Limited of Israel at an approximate cost of around INR 500 crore, defence ministry sources said

Almost all ships of the navy will be equipped with these missiles

The DAC, which is Defence Ministry's highest decision making body for capital acquisition, also accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procurement of equipment such as underwater robot to counter mines in the sea

The equipment is being procured as a repeat order with 'buy global' categorisation at a cost of approximately Rs 311 crore

It was the first meeting of the DAC after Jaitley took as defence minister on March 14

At the meeting, Jaitley took stock of various procurement proposals and issued directions for close monitoring and expeditious clearance of pending capital acquisition cases

He particularly asked for close monitoring of the proposals which are with CFA (Competent Finanancial Authority) and CNC (Contract Negotiation Committee)

The sources said DAC also reviewed several old proposals and gave instructions for their speedy processing

The DAC also cleared procurement of 'Expendable Bathythermograph Systems', a small torpedo-shaped device that holds a temperature sensor and a transducer to detect changes in water temperature, for the Indian Navy which will be acquired from the US.

40 yrs of bloodshed has benefitted none, PM to Kashmiri youth

Udhampur (J&K), Apr 2 (PTI) Sending out a message to the misguided youth of Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said "40 years of bloodshed" has not benefitted anyone and that they should choose tourism over terrorism to ensure the state's development and well-being.

He again invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's slogan of 'Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat, Insaniyat (Kashmirism, democracy and humanity)' and said this "prime motto" will be used for taking the state to new heights of development and "no obstacle can stop us".

Modi, who was on a brief visit here to inaugurate the country's longest road tunnel between Kashmir and Jammu, used the occasion to tell the stone-pelters of the valley that stones can be used for better purposes -- building infrastructure.

Addressing a rally here, he told the Kashmiri youth that if they ignore the "invaluable tradition of sufi culture", they would "lose the present and put your future into darkness".

In a veield manner, the Prime Minister also hit out at the rulers of Pakistan who are eyeing Kashmir, saying "they can't even take care of themselves".

He said his government was committed to ensure fast-paced development of Jammu and Kashmir, which would also tell the people living under "occupation" in the other parts of the state how they are being destroyed.

At the event attended by Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and some union and state ministers, Modi promised to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the development of Jammu and Kashmir and sought the cooperation of the people in this regard.

"I want to tell the misguided youth of Kashmir valley, realise the power of a stone. On one hand, there are some misguided youth who pelt stones, on the other hand, there are youth from the same Kashmir who carve stones to build infrastructure," he said.

The message was clearly for the youth who are indulge in stone-pelting in the Kashmir valley and thus risk their lives.

"I want to tell the Kashmiri youth, there are two paths in front of you which can determine your future -- one is tourism, the other is terrorism," he said.

"Over last 40 years, there has been lot of bloodshed. My own Valley has been blood-soaked, my Kashmir's beloved youth, my Hindustan's beloved youth. Nobody has benefitted from this bloodshed," the Prime Minister emphasised.

He said if the people of Kashmir had devoted the same 40 years to development of tourism, the valley would have been blessed with tourism of world class. .

Cong urges EC to scrap EVMs, return to ballot papers

New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) Crying foul over efficacy of EVMs in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress today knocked at the doors of the Election Commission and demanded scrapping its use in upcoming elections while reverting to old ballot paper system.

Citing the incident of Bhind where VVPAT machines dispensed slips only with BJP symbol, a delegation of Congress leaders met Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and two other ECs seeking a thorough probe and strict action against officials involved.

The delegation comprised Digivijaya Singh, Jytiraditya Scindia, Mohan Prakash, K C Mittal and Vivek Tankha, who told the EC to discontinue use of EVMs.

"All parties should be taken into confidence for the credibility and viability of use of EVMs or to revert back to the old system of ballot papers," the Congress delegation said.

"In the face of revelations about tampering of EVMs, it is necessary that the entire process be re-examined thoroughly and all agencies and persons involved in maintenance, operation and data feedings of machines be examined before use of EVMs in further elections," the party said in a memorandum.

Congress general secretary Mohan Prakash said, "In a democracy, time and again there have been doubts created on EVMs. We have demanded that elections be held on ballot paper because every section has created doubts on EVMs. If there are doubts on votes cast, then democracy is weakened." 

Another party general secretary Digvijay Singh said, "The next elections, be it in Gujarat or elsewhere, should be held with ballot papers and the use of EVMs be stopped." 

He also questioned the "compulsion" of "using EVMs whose chip was imported".

He argued that if the Bank of Bangladesh's account can be hacked and 80 million Dollars be stolen, besides 30 million dollars from the Russian bank, "then why can't EVMs be tampered".

"When elections all over the world, including in the developed countries, are taking place with ballot paper, why should we have problems in doing so," Singh said, adding he had doubts on the efficacy of EVMs right from day one.

Scindia said, "We hope that the EC will seriously act on our complaint and EC has assured us that it will seriously look into complaints raised by us." 

Terming this as a "serious issue", Mittal said, "This is something substantially wrong. If this is found in EVMs, then it is better to discontinue its use. The entire credibility of electoral process is in jeopardy." 

Singh added, "From (LK Advani) Advani to Mayawati to (Arvind) Kejriwal, I stand with them on this." 

Notably, BJP veteran Advani had raised doubts about possibility of EVMs malfunctioning after the 2009 elections when UPA emerged victorious second time in a row.

Sindhu enters final, sets up title date with Marin

New Delhi, April 1 (PTI) Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu set up a summit showdown with Carolina Marin after a hard-fought win over World No. 4 Korean Sung Ji Hyun in the semifinals of the India Open Super Series here on Saturday.

Cheered on by a sizable crowd at the Siri Fort Sports Complex, Sindhu dished out a superb performance to outwit the second seeded Hyun 21-18 14-21 21- in a battle of nerves, in which fortunes fluctuated.

Fans, who kept chanting 'Sindhu' and 'India' throughout the match, will witness a rematch of the Olympic final on Sunday.

Earlier, Olympic and two-time world champion Marin of Spain, defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, seeded fourth, 21-16 21-14 in an easy contest.

Coming into the match with a 6-4 head-to-head record, Sindhu displayed nerves of steel and produced some scintillating low lifts.

"I was prepared from the start because it's always a long match. So, in the second game, I was leading 5-2 but made simple errors as I hit a mid court smash outside.

"From there she lead 11-6 and I tried, but she maintained the lead and finished it off," Sindhu said.

The two-time world championship bronze medallist added, "In the decider, I was aggressive from the start. I remember last time I made some errors and gave her lead.

"So, I was prepared from the first point itself. She came back in the third but I told myself if she can win so many points why can t I and so I believed myself."

Talking about her final against Marin, Sindhu said: "At Dubai finals we played and I beat her but she defeated me at PBL but this time it will be at Delhi so I will have the support.

"But it will be a new game, new conditions, new style.

She might know my game and I might know hers, we both will have this feeling that we won against each other. But it will be a fresh strategy, fresh game, so who plays best on that day will win. I just hope for the best."

Sindhu had clinched her maiden Super Series Premier title at China Open last year before reaching the final at the Hong Kong Open.

This season, she guided the Chennai Smashers to the title win at the Premier Badminton League (PBL). She started the new international season with a win at the Syed Modi International Grand prix Gold tournament at Lucknow in January.