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India offers red carpet, not red tape: Modi
TOKYO: Telling Japanese investors that there was no better place than India to set up their overseas enterprises, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said: "I've come to assure you there is no red tape but only red carpet that awaits you in
India.
"Delivering the keynote address at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, co-hosted by Japan External Trade Organization
(Jetro), Modi said India was also the only place where the Japanese industry will pleasantly find all the three 'Ds" -- democracy, demography and demand.
"I have come here to assure you that if you have to look anywhere outside Japan, you do not need to look here or there," he said, adding: "We particularly want to encourage and invite small and medium enterprises, as also small-scale industries."
The prime minister said India now has a government that is working on development and wants to step up manufacturing. He said he wished for India what he himself experienced when he was young when he did not have to think twice if a product said "Made in Japan".
Modi also recalled the major initiative launched by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee -- the Look East Policy -- to strengthen India-Japan relations and said it had now taken firm shape.
"Just as India is focusing on Look East policy, it seems Japan is now pursuing a 'Look at India Policy'," he said, adding India will strive to replicate the Japanese model of work culture so as to attract more Japanese investment.
According to the organisers, some 4,000 people had wanted to hear Modi speak at the event, hoping for an interaction as well, but only 2,000 could be accommodated. -Agencies
Modi focuses on women's empowerment, education
TOKYO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed on the need for women's empowerment in the present-day world as he
began the fourth day of his visit to Japan.
Modi, who was addressing students of the Sacred Hearts University here, said he has always given a lot of importance to girl
child education.
"As a Gujarat chief minister, I dedicated myself to help educate the girl child in the state," Modi stated in a message
posted on the PMO twitter account.
The Indian prime minister added that he spent $180 million for girl child education.
He also noted that the Indian Constitution framework seeks to integrate women in the decision making process.
"Our current cabinet has 25 per cent women, even our external affairs minister is a woman," he said.
Later in the day, Modi will call on Japanese Emperor Akihito and leaders from across the political spectrum of Japan.
-IANS
Return as India's envoys, Modi to India-bound
Japanese youth
TOKYO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday kicked-off a new initiative on training for Japanese youth started by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) at its various facilities in India, asking them to return to Japan as India's ambassadors.
"You are going as employees of TCS. But I want you to come back to Japan as ambassadors of India," Modi told the first batch of 48 trainees who will proceed to India to undergo training for six-eight weeks at various TCS offices.
"The 21st century is the century of knowledge and technology. I am sure all of you will gain knowledge by travelling in India," he said, also asking the trainees to use their time in India not only inside classrooms and offices, but also to see the country.
The academy will enhance the technology and cultural knowledge and understanding between Indian and Japanese IT professionals. Apart from increasing their exposure to new technologies, the trainees will learn about quality, processes and business skills.
Modi also asked them to savour Indian cuisine. "I can tell you that even if you stay in India for six months and want to enjoy a new dish daily, you will not have to repeat a single dish," he added.
In April this year, TCS and Japan's Mitsubishi Corp announced they were merging their IT operations in Japan to create a new global-scale player in the Japanese IT industry. TCS has a 51-percent stake in the new venture called Tata Consultancy Services Japan.
The company's technology centre, which has capacity to seat about 4,000 employees, will provide Japanese corporations a mix of global talent and capabilities to help them transform and globalise their operations to drive their growth in future.
–IANS
Death row convict may be heard in open court: SC
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that in the cases where the death sentence has been upheld by the apex court,
the death convict will have a right that his petition seeking review of the verdict upholding death sentence will be heard by
the three judges bench in an open court and he will be accorded half an hour hearing.
The apex court constitution bench headed by Chief Justice RM Lodha said that in the review petition that have already been
decided and rejected, but the death sentence has not been carried out, the convict may come back seeking the open court
hearing of a review petition by a three judges bench and he getting half an hour to address the court.
However, in the cases, where the curative petition has already been decided, the death row convict will not have this
opportunity to avail.
The constitution bench verdict came on a batch of petitions seeking that their plea for the recall of verdict upholding their
death sentence should be heard in the open court by a three judges bench.
As of now the review plea of death row convicts were being considered by the judges in their chambers through circulation.
–Agencies
150-meters long tunnel dug up to infiltrate terrorists: Army
JAMMU: A 150 metres long tunnel which was recently discovered near a forward post along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu region's
sensitive Pallanwala sector, was apparently aimed at infiltrating terrorists, Defence spokesperson said here on Tuesday.
"Having failed to infiltrate terrorists across the Line of Control in the Jammu Division, there was an attempt to
construct a tunnel across the Line of Control (to facilitate infiltration)", he said.
The tunnel, which was discovered on 22 August 2014, was approximately 130 to 150 meters in length on own side of the
Line of Control (LoC) and originated on the Pakistan Side, spokesman said.
The tunnel was approximately 20 feet below ground level and was four feet high, he added.
A senior Army officer at Udhampur-based Northern Command headquarters felt that tunnel has been dug up with origin
from Pakistan with a design probably to push in terrorists and carry out smuggling of weapons and drugs and narcotic
substances to keep the pot of militants boiling.
However, we have not got any evidence in this regard so far, the officer said.
The alert Indian Army personnel deployed along the Line of Control in the sector thwarted the nefarious designs of
the terrorists and prevented major terrorist incidents by discovering the tunnel before it could be completed, spokesman
said.
The alert area domination patrol of the Indian Army noticed a depression in the ground and after investigating the
same with ground penetrating radar and other equipment, discovered that the tunnel, he said.
Earlier, Defence Spokesman issued a handout on 23, August, 2014 and said "On 22 Aug 2104, Army personnel deployed in
Pallanwala Sector of Jammu District during routine patrolling found a tunnel
approximately 50 meters on Indian side of the
Line of Control". -PTI
Army officer, two soldiers die in Kashmir accident
SRINAGAR: An army major and two soldiers were killed and five were injured on Tuesday in a road accident in north Kashmir's
Kupwara district, an official said.
"A vehicle of 41 RR (Rashtriya Rifles) was returning to battalion headquarters from Kalaroos forests in Kupwara district
where an operation has been going on for the last eight days against militants. It met with a road accident today (Tuesday)
morning," a senior police official told IANS here.
"One major and two jawans were killed and five other ranks have been injured. The injured have been shifted to hospital. The
vehicle went out of the driver's control and then skidded off the road," the official added. -IANS
Punjab Cabinet: Punjab govt to sell sand, gravel to consumers
Chandigarh: Facing criticism over "spiraling" prices of sand and gravel, SAD-BJP led Punjab government today decided to excavate and sell minor minerals through the state-owned departments by eliminating the role of private mining contractors in a bid to check rising prices.
In a cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the state government today gave nod to amend Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013 thereby allowing the state industries department to allot 37 quarries to the Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC) at a fixed rate of royalty to supply sand and gravel to consumers at cheaper rates.
Disclosing this here today a government spokesperson said the PSIEC will ensure the supply of sand and gravel at pithead level on a "fair" price whereas the Punjab Mandi Board will supply the minerals to the consumers at their doorsteps or at market committee yards by charging transport rates fixed by the transport department on kilometer basis.
The consumer will have the option of booking sand and gravel at market committee level as well.
"The amendment in minor mining rules will certainly benefit people as the role of private contractors will be eliminated and the state government (through its own departments) will sell sand and gravel. With this decision, the prices of sand and gravel will come down by 50 per cent," state's Industries Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said here.
The state government at present was auctioning the quarries or mines to private people who were blamed for selling sand and gravel at "very higher" prices, drawing criticism from several quarters.
The opposition party Congress had even accused SAD-BJP ruling combine of being a mere puppet in the hands of sand mafia and had done nothing to contain the rising prices of minor minerals.
The Cabinet also decided to bifurcate the post of Director Industries and Mining. A separate officer of the requisite seniority would be posted as Director Mining, whose sole responsibility would be to look after the mining of minor minerals in the state and supply thereof, he said.
The Cabinet also authorised the Industries and Agriculture Ministers to remove any difficulty coming in the way of implementing this policy. -PTI
No improvement in Jaswant Singh's condition
NEW DELHI: There has been no improvement in the health of former union minister and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh and he continues to remain in coma, a doctor at a Delhi hospital said on Tuesday.
It is the 26th day of Singh's hospitalisation.
"Jaswant Singh's condition is still the same and continues to remain in coma. He is under close scrutiny of a team of doctors," a senior doctor from the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) told IANS here.
The team of doctors consisting of neurosurgeons and critical care specialists are making all efforts to revive Singh.
The 76-year-old leader was admitted to the hospital Aug 8 in critical condition after his family found him lying on the floor of his house in an unconscious state. -IANS
Pak Parliament backs Sharif; govt slams protests
Islamabad: Amid fears of violence and army intervention in the coup-prone nation, a cornered Nawaz Sharif today turned to Parliament for support with his government slamming the protests as a "mutiny against Pakistan".
Leaders from across the political spectrum backed Sharif at an emergency joint session of the Parliament convened to support the Prime Minister and discuss the current impasse.
Most of the leaders expressed their resolute support for Sharif in the wake of anti-government protests headed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).
"This Parliament should remove the misconception that this is a democratic process. This is not a protest, not a dharna or a political gathering. This is mutiny against Pakistan," Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar told Parliament.
"They reached the gates of the Supreme Court, of Parliament... yesterday they entered another state building and chanted slogans of 'Tahir-ul-Qadri Zindabad'," he said, referring to the storming of the PTV Islamabad office.
Nisar said the protesters were armed and had support of up to 1,500 trained militants of an extremist organisation which he did not name.
Dubbing the protesters as "intruders", he urged the Parliament to declare their actions as a mutiny against the state and asked lawmakers to "guide" the government in dealing with them.
The Supreme Court, while hearing a set of petitions against sit-ins of Khan and Qadri, today issued notices to all parliamentary parties as well as to PAT to resolve the ongoing political impasse within the parameters of the Constitution.
The four-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Nasir-ul Mulk issued notices after petitioner Zulfiqar Naqvi pleaded that all parties be summoned so the deadlock can be resolved.
The developments came after late last night, the state-run PTV quoted Prime Minister Sharif as saying that neither he will resign, nor will he go on leave.
According to a joint statement issued after the opposition parties' meeting at the Prime Minister's House yesterday, the premier said he would not let people's mandate be hijacked by intimidation.
Sharif, who enjoys a solid majority in the chamber and was present during today's sitting, got much-needed support from different political parties during the debate in the Parliament with Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Aitizaz Ahsan saying the Premier should not resign under pressure.
However, he criticised the government for failure to address the problems of the people.
Other lawmakers also pledged support to the government and said force should be used to evict the people camping on the lawns of the Parliament building.
Prime Minister Sharif did not speak today and the discussion was to continue tomorrow with the Speaker adjourning the House.
At the end of debate, the joint sitting will adopt a resolution to support Sharif and urge him not to resign or go on leave as demanded by Khan and Qadri, sources told PTI.
Joint sittings of Upper House and Lower House are convened only on important occasions or to deal with emergencies. The idea of holding a joint sitting was floated by the opposition and endorsed by Sharif.
The session could continue for several days depending on the will of the parliamentarians.
Protesters have fought relentlessly with police and by late last night some of them reached closer to the Prime Minister's House but they were stopped at the main gate of the Parliament building's lawn.
Khan reiterated his call for Sharif's resignation late last night, saying he will not leave the Constitution Avenue till the Prime Minister quits.
"I approached all legal avenues to resolve the issue of poll-rigging but to no avail. The government kept employing delaying tactics but this is the real power that the government is now willing to accept all our demands except the prime minister's resignation," Khan said.
"But we will not go back until Nawaz Sharif resigns," Khan said addressing his supporters.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army, in a statement has rejected the assertions that along with ISI, it was backing PTI and PAT in the current political standoff.
"Army is an apolitical institution and has expressed its unequivocal support for democracy at numerous occasions. It is unfortunate that Army is being dragged into such controversies," it said.
In the last 48 hours, anti-government protests have morphed the high-security Red Zone from a concert ground to a bloody battlefield, with three people killed and over 550 injured.
A total of nine cases have been registered against leaders and activists of PTI and PAT since Monday.
The charges include sedition, murder attempt and terrorism. More than 200 activists have already been arrested in Islamabad since Sunday night, media reports said.
Khan and Qadri were yesterday booked under the anti-terrorist act for attempting to attack the Parliament.
Chaudhry Nisar, while addressing the Parliament, slammed the protesters for storming government buildings.
"They removed the loudspeakers from the PTV mosque. Is this the revolution they are bringing? They even stormed the canteen at PTV — they are not revolutionaries...they are intruders," Nisar said.
Khan wants the PML-N government's ouster over alleged rigging in last year's poll which his party lost, while Qadri wants to bring a revolution in the country. Both the leaders are agitating since August 14. -PTI
Sania advances in US Open, end of road for Paes
NEW YORK: It was a great day for Sania Mirza as she made it to the quarter-finals of women's doubles and the semi-final of
mixed doubles at the US Open tennis event here.
But it was the end of the road for both Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna at the tennis event.
The top seeded pair of Sania and Bruno Soares made it to the semi-final of the mixed doubles with a 7-5, 2-6, 10-5 win over
the sixth seeded pair of Bopanna and Katarina Srebotnik in the quarter-finals Monday.
In the women's doubles, Sania and Cara Black, seeded third, won their third round match against Jelena Jankovic and Klara
Koukalova 6-3, 6-2.
Meanwhile, Paes lost both his men's doubles and mixed doubles encounters.
Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek, seeded sixth, went down 2-6, 6-4, 1-6 to the 11th seeded pair of Marcel Granollers
and Marc Lopez in the third round of men's doubles.
In the mixed doubles, Paes and Cara, seeded third, lost 4-6, 6-4, 8-10, to Abigail Spears and Santiago Gonzalez in the
quarter-finals. -Agencies
Sensex, Nifty touch new highs
MUMBAI: A benchmark index of Indian equities markets hit a record high of 26,999.97 points on Tuesday, surpassing its previous peak of 26,900.30 points that was scaled Sep 1.
The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 26,888.21 points (12.30 p.m.), was trading at 26,987.57 points, up 120.02 points or 0.45 percent from the previous day's close at 26,867.55 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 26,999.97 points and a low of 26,886.22 points in the early morning trade.
The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) which crossed the 8,000-mark for the first time Monday hit a record high of 8,072.45 points.
The Nifty was trading at 8,069.60 points -- 51.50 points or 0.52 percent up from its previous close.
On Monday, the Sensex had hit a record high of 26,900.30 points, surpassing its previous peak of 26,674.38 points scaled Aug 28.
Healthy buying was observed in healthcare, bank, consumer durables, automobile and oil and gas index, while heavy selling was seen in metal index.
The S&P BSE Healthcare index was up 254.23 points, bankex was higher by 106.53 points consumer durables index rose 94.55 points, automobile index augmented by 58.93 points and oil and gas index gained by 51.74 points.
Metal index was down 80.43 points. –Agencies
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