Army chief Gen Singh in China; to hold talks with PLA top brass

BEIJING: General Bikram Singh arrived here today on a rare visit to China, the first by an Indian Army Chief in nine years, aimed at bolstering high-level strategic communication and mutual trust between the militaries of the two neighbours.

During his four-day visit General Singh would hold talks with top officials in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and meet Chinese vice-president Li Yuanchao on Thursday.

The visit is of great significance as it contributes to healthy and steady development of Sino-India relations as well as the ties between the two armed forces and create a good atmosphere, the Chinese defence ministry said in an e-mail response to a questionnaire from PTI about Gen Singh's visit.

Relations between the two armies, the regional security situation besides issues of common concern and exchanges will come up for discussion between Gen Singh and the Chinese military officials, the Chinese defence ministry said.

The two sides will also implement consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries to strengthen border exchanges and cooperation between the two armies to jointly safeguard the peace and tranquility in the border areas of China and India, it said.

Terming Singh's visit an important event in this year's planned military exchanges under the ongoing "China-Indian Friendship Exchange Year", the Chinese Defence Ministry said the visit will strengthen high-level strategic communication and mutual trust between two militaries.

His visit comes after the just-concluded trip of vice-president Hamid Ansari and ahead of the first meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brazil this month.

A host of issues, including the operationalisation of last year's Border Defence Cooperation of Agreement (BDCA) at the headquarters, command and ground level, were expected to figure in Singh's talks with the top military leadership here.

Singh, who is also the Chairman of the tri-services Chiefs of Staff Committee, begins his tour formally tomorrow with a meeting with PLA Chief of General Staff Fang Fenghui followed by Vice Chairman of the China's Military Commission General Fan Changlong.

The Military Commission, headed by Chinese President Xi is the highest military body under which all the wings of the armed forces function.

After two rounds of talks with top military officials, Singh will meet vice-president and executive vice-foreign minister Zhang Yesui.

Singh will also adress the cadets of the National Defence University here.

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Government says it has a right to be consulted on appointment of judges

NEW DELHI: Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said the government has the highest respect for the judiciary, but it has the right to be consulted on the appointment of judges.

"We have the highest respect and regard for the institution of judiciary. We are fully committed for freedom of judiciary," Prasad said.

He was responding to a question on Chief Justice of India RM Lodha's comment that the government had acted unilaterally in segregating the name of former solicitor general Gopal Subramanium from the panel of four names recommended by the collegium for appointment as apex court judges.

READ ALSO: CJI slams Modi govt, Gopal Subramanium over selection row

"In the process of appointment of judges, the government has got the right to be consulted. Whatever opinion the government has given is based upon sound grounds," the minister said.

Chief Justice of India RM Lodha had on Tuesday slammed govt's move to unilaterally reject the name of Gopal Subramanium as SC judge

Subramanium along with senior counsel Rohinton Nariman was among the four names that were recommended for appointment as judges of the Supreme Court.

However, the government cleared all the names except that of Subramanium who later withdrew from the race.

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I apprised PM on telecom related issues, A Raja tells court

NEW DELHI: Former Telecom Minister A Raja on Wednesday told a Delhi court that he had "apprised" the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about various telecom related issues, including allocation of 2G spectrum, after holding a meeting with PranabMukherjee, who was external affairs minister and then solicitor general GE Vahanvati.

Defending himself in the ongoing trial in the 2G spectrum allocation case, Raja, one of the accused, said that in December 2007, he and Vahanvati had gone to meet Mukherjee and an "extensive discussion" took place between them on various telecom related issues.

"Soon after the meeting (with Mukherjee and SG), I met the Prime Minister and apprised him of the happenings and outcome of the aforesaid meeting and I promised and undertook to give a detailed note in this regard," Raja told Special CBI Judge OP Saini.

"Accordingly, I sent a detailed letter containing issue based description to the Prime Minister on December 26, 2007," he said.

Raja had on Tuesday told the court that the then PM had asked him to have discussion with Mukherjee, who was heading the empowered group of ministers on vacation of spectrum, on issues related to telecom matters.

Regarding the meeting with Mukherjee and the then SG, Raja said that "an extensive discussion took place between minister for external affairs, SG and myself, issue-wise, as mentioned in the brief, namely, subscriber based criteria for allotment of spectrum, dual technology, new UASL applications for issuance of new licences and allocation of spectrum."

"At the end of the meeting, minister for external affairs shared with me that he was going to give a separate note to the Prime Minister in this regard and further directed me to apprise the Prime Minister separately," Raja, whose deposition will continue tomorrow, said.

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India, US discuss ways to enhance strategic partnership

NEW DELHI: Senior US senator John McCain on Wednesday met foreign minister Sushma Swaraj here during which they discussed ways to enhance India-US strategic partnership as also the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Ahead of his visit, the Republican Senator from Arizona had said, "We seek to take our strategic partnership with India to the next level, it is important for US leaders to reach out personally to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially in light of recent history."

Talking about the meeting between Swaraj and McCain, who will call on Modi on Thursday, the spokesperson in the external affairs ministry said the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and how to take them forward.

READ ALSO: BJP snooping row — India summons top US diplomat

And since McCain himself is a war veteran, he also talked about troops deployment in Afghanistan and situation in Iraq.

Significantly, McCain is against US withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, maintaining that if Afghanistan goes Iraq's way in the absence of US forces, it would leave India with a clear and present danger on its periphery and for this reason, he was deeply concerned about the consequences of the president's plan to pull all of US troops out of the war-torn country by 2016.

On US President Barack Obama inviting Modi for a meeting in Washington, McCain during his address to Senate ahead of his visit had said, "I wish he had extended that invitation sooner, but it is positive nonetheless. When the Prime Minister comes to Washington, I urge our congressional leaders to invite him to address a joint session of Congress.

"I can imagine no more compelling scene than the elected leader of the world's largest democracy addressing the elected representatives of the world's oldest democracy."

McCain is among the high-profile visitors from the US this month, which will also see a visit by secretary of state John Kerry for India-US Strategic Dialogue on July 31.

However, Kerry's visit will be preceded by US deputy secretary of state William Burns' trip here.

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Amarnath yatra begins from traditional Pahalgam route

SRINAGAR: The yatra to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath on Wednesday started from the traditional Pahalgam route, four days after the annual pilgrimage began on the shorter Baltal route.

"The yatra to the holy cave of Shri Amarnathji commenced today from the Chandanwari route also and 4,166 pilgrims left from here to the Holy Cave," a spokesman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) said.

From the Baltal route, 8,922 yatris left for the Holy cave, he said, adding that till date, 61,156 pilgrims had darshan of the 'ice lingam'.

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Mamata Banerjee ‘deeply saddened’ by Tapas Pal's remarks

KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is "deeply saddened" by party MP Tapas Pal's alleged remarks threatening to kill CPM workers and have their women raped, party secretary general Partha Chatterjee said on Tuesday.
"Such kind of comment is condemnable. Our party leader is deeply saddened beyond comprehension. The matter came to her notice on Monday. He has been cautioned and an explanation has been sought from him. The party does not support this kind of conduct," the West Bengal education minister said during a press conference at the Assembly premises.
Asked whether the administration would take action against the errant MP, he said "I have informed you about the views of the party. The administration will speak for itself."
Another senior TMC leader and panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said that a decision in this regard would be taken at a meeting of party MPs on Wednesday.
The TMC supremo has convened the meeting to chalk out a strategy for the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament.
On opposition's hue and cry over the issue and demand for stern action against Pal, Chatterjee said "The CPM has no right to say so, given what they had done in the past.
"It is not that we have to follow the footsteps of what others had done," Chatterjee said referring to instances of senior CPM leader Anisur Rahman's derogatory comments against Banerjee at in 2012 and Banerjee being pulled by the hair and driven out from the Writers Building when Jyoti Basu was chief minister.
TMC yesterday demanded from the actor-turned MP to give an explanation in writing within 48 hours on why he made such remarks.
Pal, a Bengali film actor, was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Krishnagar constituency in Nadia district twice on TMC ticket in 2009 and 2014.

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TMC MP Tapas Pal apologizes for 'threatening to kill and rape opponents'

KOLKATA: Under all-round attack, Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal on Tuesday tendered unconditional apology for his insensitive comments threatening to kill opposition CPM workers and having their women raped if a single ruling party worker was attacked.

The apology came following a direction from the party after his remarks triggered outrage and strong condemnation from political parties and noted personalities.

"His comments are condemnable. The party does not approve of it. The party has sought an explanation from him and cautioned him. The party asked that he tender an unconditional apology to the people for his comments," TMC general secretary Mukul Roy said earlier.

Another senior party leader and state education minister Partha Chatterjee described Pal's threat as "condemnable".

READ ALSO: TMC MP's wife apologizes for husband's shocking statement

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Tapas Pal with his wife Nandini

He told reporters outside the assembly premises, "It is condemnable. Our party leader(Mamata Banerjee) is deeply saddened. He has been cautioned and an explanation has been sought from him. The party does not support this kind of conduct."

Pal's comments drew flak from another senior party leader and Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee who said that a decision would be taken on what action to be taken at a meeting of party MPs on Wednesday to be presided over by Mamata Banerjee.

Yesterday the TMC demanded an explanation in writing from Pal, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Krishnagar constitency in Nadia district twice in 2009 and 2014, within 48 hours.

READ ALSO: Will ask my boys to go and rape CPM women: TMC MP Tapas Pal openly threatens opponents

The CPM, the target of Pal's attack, demanded that Parliament should act against the actor-turned MP and that cases be filed for criminal intimidation and incitement to violence after describing the hate speech as "shocking and obnoxious".

"The speech of the Trinamool Congress MP, Tapas Pal, inciting violence and rape against CPM workers and women is shocking and obnoxious. He threatened murder, destruction of homes of CPM men and to send his boys to rape women there," the CPM politburo said in a statement.

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Chief Justice of India slams Modi govt for rejecting Gopal Subramanium's candidature

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India RM Lodha has hit out at Narendra Modi government for rejecting the candidature of former solicitor general Gopal Subramanium as SC judge.

"The move to segregate Gopal Subramanium's name was done unilaterally by the executive without my knowledge and consent," the CJI said reacting strongly to Gopal Subramanium controversy.

"Independence of judiciary will never be compromised," the CJI said.

READ ALSO: Attacking government and judiciary, GopalSubramanium opts out of judgeship

The CJI was also shocked by Gopal Subramanium's letter to him accusing the judiciary of not sanding by the former solicitor general after his name was returned by the government citing adverse IB and CBI reports.

CJI said he had asked Subramanium to wait till he returned from abroad to discuss the issue.

Chief Justice of India RM Lodha has slammed Modi govt over the Gopal Subramanium row.

But Gopal Subramanium decided to go public with the letter withdrawing consent for judgeship.

CJI further said he had asked Subramanium to reconsider his decision but got a 30-word letter from him saying he was no more interested in judgeship.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Chief Justice of India RM Lodha slams Modi govt for rejecting Gopal Subramanium's candidature

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India RM Lodha has hit out at Narendra Modi government for rejecting the candidature of former solicitor general Gopal Subramanium as SC judge.

"The first thing I had taken objection to was the segregation of Gopal Subramanium's file unilaterally by the executive. It is not proper," he said at a function here breaking his silence on the controversy that struck the new government within a month of its coming to power.

Justice Lodha asserted that independence of judiciary was of utmost importance to him and told the lawyers at the function that "don't get the impression that independence of judiciary was compromised".

"I promise 1.2 billion people of India that independence of judiciary will not be compromised," he said adding "I will be the first person to leave this chair if judiciary's independence is compromised".

He was speaking at a function to bid farewell to Justice BS Chauhan who demitted office today on attaining the age of superannuation.

READ ALSO: Attacking government and judiciary, Gopal Subramanium opts out of judgeship

The CJI was also shocked by Gopal Subramanium's letter to him accusing the judiciary of not sanding by the former solicitor general after his name was returned by the government citing adverse IB and CBI reports.

Chief Justice of India RM Lodha has slammed Modi govt over the Gopal Subramanium row.

CJI said he had asked Subramanium to wait till he returned from abroad to discuss the issue.

But Gopal Subramanium decided to go public with the letter withdrawing consent for judgeship.

CJI further said he had asked Subramanium to reconsider his decision but got a 30-word letter from him saying he was no more interested in judgeship.

Again after a few days when the Chief Justice talked to him once more, Subramanium reiterated his decision. Justice Lodha said, "On June 29 when he wrote a letter reiterating his position, I was left with no choice but to recall the proposal (recommending Subramanium's name for appointment as judge)."
Chief justice of Calcutta high court Arun Mishra Chief justice of Orissa high court Adarsh Goel and eminent lawyer Rohinton Nariman were the other three names recommended by the collegium which the government accepted. The three were later appointed as judges of the Supreme Court.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Not surprised by petrol/diesel prices hike: Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Senior JD(U) leader and former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar today said he was not surprised at rise in prices of petrol and diesel besides, soaring rates of food items under Narendra Modi government which could not deliver on tall promises made so far.

"I am not surprised. The rise in petrol and diesel prices along with soaring food prices have come as surprise to those who harboured expectations from the new government which had made tall promises of 'Achhe din' (good days) on election eve," Kumar told reporters emerging from the legislative council.

Asked if the pet slogan of Narendra Modi "Achhe din" (good days) have come true or was it like "India Shinning" of previous NDA government, Kumar with a caustic smile said opposition was giving some more time to the new government before taking the government to task for its failures.

Kumar's terse remarks came as reaction to hike of petrol price by a steep Rs 1.69 per litre and diesel by 50 paise a litre.

Kumar, who had served as Railway minister in the NDA rule of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had earlier taken on the new government over rise of railway passenger fare by 14.2 per cent as well that in freight by 6.7 per cent and said the results did not correspond with Modi government's promise of "Achhe din" (good days).

Senior RJD leader and former chief minister Rabri Devi was also critical of the government for raising prices of petrol and diesel and said now 'Achhe din' (good days) are coming under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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