NEW DELHI: Launching his government's ambitious project to make India a manufacturing hub, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today promised effective and easy governance to help achieve high growth and creation of jobs.

Kicking off the "Make in India" campaign, he said his government's focus will be on physical infrastructure creation as well as creating a digital network for making India a hub for global manufacturing of goods ranging from cars to softwares, satellites to submarines and paper to power.

"I do not only talk about good governance. I talk about effective governance and easy governance," he said launching the 'Make in India' campaign that was attended by a galaxy of industrialists and business leaders, including Cyrus Mistry, Mukesh Ambani, Azim Premji, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chanda Kocchar and Y C Deveshwar.

Calling upon domestic and international companies to invest in India, the Prime Minister said his government's focus was not only to 'Look East' but also to 'Link West'.

"We want highways. We also want i-ways - information ways for a Digital India," Modi said, adding "Make in India is not a slogan, not an invitation".

Recalling the scenario of last two-three years where "companies were looking to move out of country", he said three months of the NDA government has reversed the mood with its focus on easing the process of doing business in the country.

"The government is committed to development. This is not a political agenda, but an article of faith," he said while stressing on public-private partnership as well as skill development for increasing share of manufacturing in GDP.

Modi said the world is ready to come to Asia and India offers best destination as it is a vibrant democracy with demographic dividend and huge demand. 

Modi said the 'Make in India campaign is a lion's step' towards making the country a destination for global manufacturing.

"We don't have to tell the world our address, there will be a Vasco da Gama in every nook and corner," he said.

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said series of measures have been taken on ease of doing business and that the government was fully committed to de-licensing, deregulating and taking India to high growth trajectory.

Speaking on the occasion, Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry stressed on the need to reform labour laws. He said the Group was fully committed to investing in India.

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said implementation of GST will make India one market and strengthen overall the 'Make in India' programme.

He also said Reliance Industries would be creating 1.25 lakh jobs in next 12-15 month period.

Wipro chief Azim Premji opined that true success of manufacturing lies in ability to service global market.

Stressing on the need to focus on ease of doing business, ICICI Bank CEO and MD Chanda Kochhar said strong manufacturing will enhance country's macro-economic stability besides creating jobs.

Phil Shaw, CEO Lockheed Martin, termed India as "epicentre of innovation" and said his company would be delighted to work with government of India.

In his address, ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar said that problems of inflation and unemployment can be resolved through domestic manufacturing. He said ITC's next investment destination is Madhya Pradesh. — PTI

Seat-sharing impasse on; Sena, BJP vying to win over allies

MUMBAI: Amid indications that the 25-year-old Shiv Sena-BJP alliance might be on the verge of collapse, both parties are making efforts to win over the smaller members of the 'Mahayuti'.

"Whatever happens, the allies will be with Sena," the party's mouthpiece, 'Saamana', claimed on Thursday.

A senior BJP leader, on the other hand, said the smaller parties know that their interests would be served only by aligning with the BJP.

"Be it a Union Cabinet berth, a Rajya Sabha seat or any position in the government, they know that only the BJP has the power to do it," said the BJP leader, who did not want to be named.

After hectic parleys with Sena and BJP leaders late last night, RSP leader Mahadev Jankar had said that the four smaller parties in the six-member Mahayuti (saffron-led grand alliance) had agreed to settle for 14 seats so that the Sena and the BJP could share the remaining 274 seats for the October 15 polls.

Sena leader Ramdas Kadam had said that the discussions concluded on a positive note.

"The smaller parties are no longer dissatisfied with the seat allocation," Kadam had said late last night.

Another senior Sena leader, Diwakar Raote, said, "The seat-sharing formula is almost finalised."

However, in an indication of the trust deficit ahead of the Oct. 15 Assembly elections, a top state BJP leader said, "The Sena leaders tried to incite smaller constituents of the Mahayuti against us."

The BJP leader said that the Sena was not willing to settle for less than 151 seats, leaving 130 to BJP and seven for others.

"How will the allies agree to such a few seats. This formula was proposed to us by Sena but later they (Sena leaders) tried to convince our other allies that it was us who had floated the formula," the leader alleged.

"This sort of behaviour is something which has raised our concerns," he said.

"By not willing to come down from the 150 mark, the Sena is making others insecure and indicating that it does not trust the other partners of the Mahayuti," the leader said.

Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who will visit the Tulja Bhavani temple in Tuljapur today, is expected to comment on the developments.

BJP president Amit Shah is scheduled to attend an event in the adjoining Thane district later today.

Junior Mahayuti allies RSP, SSP and Shiv Sangram had yesterday accused Sena and BJP of betraying them on the matter of allocation of seats but piped down after meeting leaders of both parties later in the day. — PTI

SRINAGAR: Security forces have busted a militant hideout in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition in the operation, a defence spokesman said on Thursday.

"Army and J-K Police yesterday busted a terrorist hideout in Kralsangar forest in Handwara area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition," the spokesman said.

Acting on a specific input, security forces conducted a search operation during which three AK rifles, several RPG and UBGL rounds, Chinese grenades, AK ammunition and IED circuits were recovered, he said.

"Army is vigilant to foil any attempts by terrorists to use explosives and weapons to instigate unrest in the region," the spokesman added. -PTI

JIND (Haryana): Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo Om Prakash Chautala today hit out at the Congress for sending him to prison to crush his party's struggle and vowed he will take oath as Chief Minister from Tihar jail.

"I was put behind bars due to wrong policies (of Congress) and its wishful thinking that it will end the struggle of the INLD. Rather, in my absence the party has strengthened," the 79-year-old Jat leader, who is behind bars after being convicted for ten years along with others in a teachers recruitment scandal, said here.

Chautala is presently out on bail on health grounds. He and his son Ajay have been sentenced to 10-year prison term after being found guilty in a teacher recruitment scam, while others in the case have been awarded varying jail terms.

Addressing a rally here in the Jat heartland organised to mark the 100th birth anniversary of late Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, also popular as messiah of farmers, Chautala told the gathering that "your presence in large numbers here has obliterated the wishful thinking of the Congress." 

Taking a dig at his opponents for claiming that he will not be able to return to public life, Chautala asked his workers not to get afraid and asserted that he will become the next Chief Minister.

"I will take oath as CM from Tihar jail," he said, exuding confidence that the INLD had been strengthened in his absence.

Chautala, who appeared for the first time in a public meeting after his conviction in the JBT scandal in February last year, said he was not afraid of jail.

"I am not afraid of jail ... the government sent me to prison by projecting me as a criminal," he said.

"The day I was born, my father Devi Lal was in jail ... I spent time in jail for the cause of farmers, employees and also during the days of Emergency," he said.

Chautala said he was not greedy for power. "INLD's only aim is to end mis-governance of the Congress," he said. — PTI

CHANDIGARH: Kuldeep Bishnoi-led Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC-BL) today declared the names of 58 candidates for the October 15 Assembly elections and is set to announce another seven later in the evening.

Altogether, HJC will fight for 65 seats in the 90-member Assembly, while its ally Venod Sharma-led Jan Chetna Party (JCP) will take on the rest 25 seats.

Making the announcement in the presence of Sharma and his elder brother and former Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan, Bishnoi said the list of candidates was a "perfect balance" accommodating all sections of society.

He said that the candidates had the blessings of all 36 castes of the state, and added that he would announce the names of remaining seven candidates by today evening.

Venod Sharma, a former Union minister and a former Congress leader, said he would declare the names of 25 candidates of his party tomorrow.

Bishnoi will contest from his traditional bastion Adampur, while his wife and sitting MLA Renuka will fight from Hansi, whereas Sharma is to seek votes from Ambala.

Chander Mohan, who has been an MLA for five terms from Panchkula on Congress ticket, will test his nerves from Nalwa.

Former Congressman Dharampal Mallik, a one-time strong supporter of Bishnoi's father Bhajan Lal, has been fielded from Tohana seat, while Bishnoi's relative Dura Ram will fight from Fatehabad.

Of the total contestants, 45 are below the age of 55 years, Bishnoi said, adding that only two contestants were above 70 years of age.

The HJC has fielded five women contestants and also romped Congress rebels Ravinder Rawal and Arjun Singh Gujjar.

After the media interaction, as Bishnoi and Sharma were leaving the venue, some political activists claiming to be of HJC, raised slogans against Bishnoi.

Former MLA Shashi Parmar, who claimed that he is General Secretary of HJC, alleged that Bishnoi distributed tickets after "collecting" money.

He accused Bishnoi of ignoring party associates for "not paying money".

However, Bishnoi refuted the accusations and said the only criteria to select candidates was the winnability factor of the individual.

During the press meet, Bishnoi, the younger son of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, said that the thrust of the HJC-JCP alliance is to provide transparent governance, fearless regime and equitable development of Haryana.

He lashed out at jailed leader Om Parkash Chautala-led Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) of being a "corrupt" party involved in "goondaism".

The HJC formed the alliance with the JCP after breaking up with the BJP over differences on seat sharing.

Sharma said the HJC-JCP alliance would get "close to majority" seats in the 90-member Haryana Assembly.

He lambasted Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for allegedly indulging in favouritism and focusing on areas of Rohtak, Jhajjar and Bahadurgarh. — PTI

UNITED NATIONS: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has begun her 10-day trip to the US with back-to-back meetings here with her counterparts from seven nations, including the UK and the Maldives.

Swaraj met the leaders at the United Nations headquarters yesterday.

She met UK Secretary of State Philip Hammond, Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Ahmed Karti, Maldives Foreign Affairs Minister Dunya Maumoon, Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Borge Brende, Kyrgyz Foreign Affairs Minister Abdyldaev Erlan Bekeshovich, Greece Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Aminu Wali.

Swaraj, however, did not speak to the media after the meetings.

The External Affairs Minister is scheduled to meet nearly 100 foreign ministers during her visit to the US and will also join the delegation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will reach New York on September 26.

Ahead of Prime Minister Modi's arrival, Swaraj will participate in the meetings with the Foreign Ministers of the G4, IBSA, BRICS, Commonwealth and SAARC.

Her bilateral meetings will be with Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Alberto Figueiredo Machado, Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali and Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi.

In the Commonwealth and SAARC meetings, Swaraj could meet Pakistan's National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz.

On September 26, before Modi reaches New York, Swaraj will participate in a bilateral meeting with Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry besides participating in a ministerial level meeting of the Committee on Palestine. -PTI

INCHEON: The Indian women's trio of Shagun Chowdhary, Shreyasi Singh and Varsha Varman finished third to win the bronze in the double trap team event of the 17th Asian Games at the Gyeonggido Shooting Range here Thursday.

The Indian team shot 279 to claim third place behind China and South Korea, who clinched gold and silver, respectively.

Shagun fired 96 with scores of 24, 25, 24, 23 while Shreyasi added 94 points with shots of 24, 22, 22, 26. 

Varsha contributed 89 points with scores of 23, 21, 24, 21 which helped India finish ahead of fourth-placed Chinese Taipei, who scored 268 points.

The bronze was India's seventh overall medal - one gold and six bronze - from the shooting range at the Asiad.

The gold went to Chinese team of Yafei Zhang, Yiting Bai and Mei Zhu, who shot a combined 315, one point more than the South Korean team of Mijin Kim, Hyekyoung Son and Bona Lee.

However, none of the Indian women managed to finish on the podium in the individual event with Shagun, Shreyasi and Varsha, taking eighth, 10th and 12th positions, respectively.

Korea's Mijin shot a world record score of 110 to win gold. China's Yafei and Yiting won silver and bronze.-IANS

INCHEON: Swaran Singh rowed his way through exhaustion to fetch India its second bronze medal at the Asian Games Chungju Tangeum Lake International Rowing Centre here this morning.

Singh covered the 2000m distance in 7 minutes, 10.65 seconds, which was better than his performance at the London Olympic Games two years ago timing wise (7:29.66) , to clinch the third place in men's singles sculls.

But the extra effort the 24-year-old former volleyball player put in towards the end when he tried to ward off the challenge from South Korean rival Kim Dongyong, who secured the silver, saw him collapse due to exhaustion. He fell off the boat into the water, and had to be taken out by the rescue team to the ambulance.

"He should be fine. It was just exhaustion which happens to rowers at times. It was a brave effort as he was struck with severe back pain over the last three to six months and we had to work really hard to get him back into shape," said Rowing Federation of India secretary general M V Sriram.

Swaran Singh, who is 1.89 metres tall and weighs 88 kg, led the field of six rowers for the first 1 km of the race and was comfortably headed towards the silver, before being overtaken by Iranian gold medallist Mohsen Shadinaghadeh, who clocked 7:05:66.

Korean rower Dongyong took the second place in 7:06.17.
Swaran Singh, who had clocked a slower 7:31.88 when he won the gold in the 2013 Asian Championship in China, had come through the repechage to be in the medal race.

He has shown steady progress in his event, having grabbed the gold in the last Asian Championship after finishing third in 2011 in Slovakia.

Even in world championships, Swaran – who took up rowing only five years ago - had improved from the 17th-place finish in 2011 to 12th last year in this country.

This was the second day in succession that rowing had provided India with a medal.
Yesterday Dushyant Chauhan picked up a bronze in men's lightweight single sculls. -PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Thursday struck down the National Tax Tribunal Act, holding it unconstitutional.

An apex court constitution bench headed by Chief Justice R.M. Lodha said that parliament could not take away the powers of the judiciary and rest them in a tribunal which is not a court in its characteristic.

Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman in a separate but concurring judgment, describing the tribunal as unconstitutional and in breach of separation of powers between different organs of the state, said that the substantial question of law can only be decided by the higher judiciary - the Supreme Court and the high courts. -IANS