US wants to trade even more with India: Obama

NEW DELHI: "We want to trade even more," US President Barack Obama said on Sunday as the two-way commerce between America and India touched a record USD 100 billion.

"In the last few years, trade between our two countries increased by some 60 per cent, total record of USD 100 billion. We want to trade even more," he said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

Obama, who is on a three-day visit, also welcomed the economic reforms being pursued by the government.

READ ALSO: Obama's India visit aimed at containing China: Report

"...(we) welcome the reforms that the Prime Minister is pursuing to make it easier to do business here in India," he said, adding the trade and economic partnership must focus on improving the daily lives of "our people".

"Prime Minister Modi describes for me his ambitious efforts to empower more Indians with bank accounts and to ensure clean water, clean air for Indian people and we want to be partners in these efforts," Obama said.

He also said the two sides have agreed to resume discussions on the Bilateral Investment Treaty.

READ ALSO: Obama refers to Modi's 'chai pe charcha'

The proposed pact is aimed at protecting investments between the two nations.

The Modi-government, which assumed power in May 2014, has taken a slew of measures to attract foreign investments, including further liberalisation of FDI norms in the defence and insurance sectors.

The government is also taking steps toward making in easier to do business in India.

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Religion cannot be made cause of conflict: President

NEW DELHI: Asserting that religion cannot be made a cause of conflict, President Pranab Mukherjee today said "tolerance" and promotion of goodwill between diverse communities needs to be preserved with "utmost care and vigilance".

In his address to the nation on the eve of 66th Republic Day, the President quoted Mahatma Gandhi, "religion is a force for unity" and said, "we cannot make it a cause of conflict" as wisdom of India always teaches "unity is strength,dominance is weakness."

He said the Constitution is the holy book of democracy and a "lodestar" for the socio-economic transformation of an India whose civilization has celebrated pluralism, advocated tolerance and promoted goodwill between diverse communities.

"These values, however, need to be preserved with utmost care and vigilance," he said.

The comments of the President came at a time when some right wing parties have been sparking one controversy after another by raising issues like 'ghar wapsi', eulogiusing Nathuram Godse, pressing for having 10 kids for increasing Hindu population and some ministers making inappropriate comments about minorities.
The freedom inherent in democracy sometimes generates an unhappy by-product when political discourse becomes a "competition in hysteria that is abhorrent to our traditional ethos. The violence of the tongue cuts and wounds people's hearts," Mukherjee said.

READ ALSO: Rape, murders, harassment have made women fearful, says President

On the issue of India being termed as a "soft power", he said, "the most powerful example of India's soft power, in an international environment where so many countries are sinking into the morass of theocratic violence, lies in our definition of the relationship between faith and polity.

President Pranab Mukherjee addressing the nation on the eve of 66th Republic Day Celebration at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. ( PTI Photo)

"We have always reposed our trust in faith-equality where every faith is equal before the law and every culture blends into another to create a positive dynamic," the President said.

READ ALSO: Ordinance route 'breaches' trust of people, says President

Speaking about the menace of terrorism, Mukherjee made a veiled reference about Pakistan saying that the country's "adversaries" will stop at nothing to disrupt India's progress.

The multi-nation conflict has converted boundaries into "bloodlines, and turned terrorism into an industry of evil.

"Terrorism and violence are seeping across our borders. While peace, non-violence and good neighbourly intentions should remain the fundamentals of our foreign policy, we cannot afford to be complacent about adversaries who will stop at nothing to disrupt our progress towards a prosperous and equitable India," he said.

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Let certain things be under wraps: Modi, Obama

NEW DELHI: What transpired between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama over tea on Sunday at the Hyderabad House is likely to remain in the realm of speculation with the two leaders refusing to share details of their tete-a-tete with the media.

"As far as talks are concerned, let them remain behind the curtains," Modi said, when asked at a joint media interation with Obama what the two leaders shared during their tea session as well as during their stroll in the well-manicured lawns.

Obama also agreed with Modi on this saying, "He is right...we can't tell you everything that we talked about."

READ ALSO: 7 reasons why Obama's second visit to India is important

The US President, however, said what they did share during their personal interactions was how much sleep each of them received and it came out that Modi was getting an hour's sleep less than him.

"I will share one thing, and that is we compared how much sleep each of us is getting and it turns out that Modi is getting even less sleep than me. But, of course that's because he is still new. After he's been doing this for about six years may be he will be able to get an extra hour," Obama said as mediamen chuckled over the joke.

READ ALSO: India, US moving towards civil nuclear deal: Obama

Modi earlier said the relationship between two nations do not depend on the commas and fullstops on paper but between what relationship and chemistry the leaders shared between them.

"When away from cameras, we talk with each other informally, we know each other closely. Barack and I have developed a friendship, and due to this openness, we can talk easily over phone, we can share a joke and laugh," Modi said.

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India, US to set up hotline between top leaders

NEW DELHI: In a first, India and the US on Sunday agreed to set up a hotline between their top leaders - Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama.

"We will establish hotlines between myself and Barack and our National Security Advisors," Modi said in his opening statement during the two leaders' joint interaction with the media.

READ ALSO: Obama greets the news conference in Hindi

The Ministry of External Affairs later said this is the first time that India and the US will have a hotline at the level of top leadership.

Modi said the effort was part of their exercise to give the critical partnership between two countries "a new thrust and sustained attention"

"We have decided to give this critical partnership a new thrust and sustained attention. For this, we have agreed that India and the United States must have regular Summits at greater frequency," he said.

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Ordinance route 'breaches' trust of people: President

NEW DELHI: After cautioning the Government against taking the ordinance route, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday did some plain speaking, saying enacting laws without discussions "breaches the trust" reposed by people and is not good for democracy.

In his address on the eve of 66th Republic Day, Mukherjee spoke about the importance of legislature and said that after three decades, people have voted a single party to majority for having a stable government.

"The voter has played her part; it is now up to those who have been elected to honour this trust. It was a vote for clean, efficient, effective, gender-sensitive, transparent, accountable and citizen-friendly governance," he said.

Dwelling upon the role of legislature, the President said it is a "platform where progressive legislations using civilised dialogue" which must create delivery mechanism for realizing the aspirations of the people and also reconciling the differences among all the stakeholders before enacting laws.

"Enacting laws without discussion impacts the law-making role of the Parliament. It breaches the trust reposed in it by the people. This is neither good for the democracy nor for the policies relating to those laws," he said.

Mukherjee had earlier stated that ordinances are meant for specific purposes, that is "to meet an extraordinary situation under extraordinary circumstances".

The remarks had come against the backdrop of the Modi government having issued nine ordinances including those for raising the FDI limit in the insurance sector and e-auctioning of coal mines.

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India,US hoping for progress in nuclear,defence,tech transfer

NEW DELHI: Moving forward on issues of civil nuclear deal, technology transfer and joint ventures in defence will be among the key areas where India and the US will like to have "concrete deliverables" during the three-day high-voltage trip of US President Barack Obama from tomorrow.

However, the US president's schedule, which earlier included a visit to iconic Taj, had to be readjusted due to his last minute plans to travel to Riyadh on January 27 to pay respects to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the family of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. President Obama "regrets" not being able to visit the Taj, White House said in a statement.

Both countries are working hard to have "excellent" outcomes during the visit of Obama, who will have a tight schedule including talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attending Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest, meeting with business leaders, and an address on 'India and America: The Future We Can Build Together'.

Describing the presidential visit as "one of our most important diplomatic engagements in recent times", Spokesperson in the external affairs ministry Syed Akbaruddin had said cooperation in key areas of defence, security, counter-terrorism and the situation in India's extended neighbourhood would be among the issues to be discussed between Obama and Prime Minister Modi.

Asked about the differences between the two sides on the nuclear deal, he said that "progress has been made" during the previous negotiations and India was looking forward to "effectively" work with the US in the "extremely important" nuclear field.

The Indian liability law holds the suppliers directly liable in case of a nuclear accident while countries like France and the US have asked India to follow global norms under which the primary liability is with the operator.

Since all the nuclear power plants in the country are run by the government-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, following international norms will mean the government would have to pay the damages in case of an accident.

Another contentious clause in the liability law was unlimited liability for which international companies will find it difficult to get insurers.

According to the sources, progress was made during the two-day meeting of Indo-US Contact Group in London, but some lingering issues may require resolution at the political level.

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Obama greets Pranab Mukherjee ahead of Republic Day

NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama has greeted President Pranab Mukherjee ahead of Republic Day, appreciating India's rich and diverse cultural heritage and promising to advance the relationship between the two countries.

In a special message to Mukherjee, Obama said: "The Republic of India has nurtured the world's largest democracy since adopting its Constitution 65 years ago, while honouring the country's rich and diverse cultural heritage.

"As we work to deepen the ties between our great democracies and advance our partnership for the 21st century, we will continue to do so on the basis of the democratic ideals contained in our constitutions."

The US president said it was a great honour to serve as the chief guest during the Republic Day celebrations, a Rashtrapati Bhawan release said.

"Michelle and I very much look forward to returning to India, and once again enjoying the generosity, hospitality, and beauty that marked our last visit in 2010," he said.

"On behalf of the American people, I extend best wishes as you and the people of India celebrate India's Republic Day Jan 26," the message said.

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Manjhi refutes differences with Nitish

PATNA: With JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav holding a closed door meeting with Bihar chief minister and state party chief to stem the deepening crisis in the party, Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday denied speculations about 'differences' with senior party leader Nitish Kumar.

"Doubts are being spread about differences between me and Nitish Kumar which is not true ... Some people in a bid to serve their own vested interests are spreading such rumours," Manjhi said at a party function to mark the birth anniversary of socialist leader Karpoori Thakur.

Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav were on the dais with him. Praising Kumar, Manjhi said he showed the "highest level of political ethics" by resigning from the chief minister's post owing moral responsibility for JD(U)'s debacle in the general election.

"He could have easily nominated somebody from his caste or people who are always around him to succeed him. But, he reposed faith in a mahadalit like me ... I will not betray his trust.

"Those trying to serve their own vested interest by creating rift between us would not be allowed to succeed. We are one and will remain one," he said.

Earlier, during the day Yadav concerned over the deepening crisis in JD(U) in the wake of war of words between supporters of Nitish Kumar and Manjhi held a closed door meeting to douse the fire.

Manjhi and state party chief Basistha Narayan Singh were with Yadav in the closed door meeting at the state guest house for more than half an hour.

When asked, Manjhi told reporters after the meeting that there was no problem in the party.

"Ask Sharad Yadav," he said, when pressed further. Asked about BJP firing salvos at Kumar and JD(U), Manjhi said "Go and ask Nitish Kumar on this."

Singh, who had come to the state guest house from the residence of senior leader Nitish Kumar admitted, the situation was becoming 'serious' due to repeated statements of leaders.

"The party is suffering a serious loss due to statements coming from party leaders," the JD(U) state chief told reporters.

Crisis in JD(U) appears to be deepening since the 'dinner diplomacy' attended by over 20 state ministers owing allegiance to Kumar at the residence of food minister Shyam Rajak on Wednesday.

Manjhi adopted a defiant pose and claimed at a function at Banka the very next day that he had performed better than previous regimes including that of Nitish Kumar.

He has been making assertions subsequently also which reflected his defiant approach.

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Modi-Obama 'Man Ki Baat' on January 27 at 8pm

NEW DELHI: The special radio address 'Mann ki Baat' through which US President Barack Obama will share radiowaves with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be aired by All India Radio (AIR) at 8 pm on January 27.

Regional versions of the special programme would be broadcast the next day at 9 am, officials said.

The programme is expected to dominate the media space as private radio channels, private news and current affairs TV channels and community radios are also expected to carry it because free feed of the content is being provided to them from AIR and DD News.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has also written a letter urging private radio and TV channels to avail them to avail the free feed from AIR and DD News.

The Prime Minister had himself announced in one of his tweets that 'Mann Ki Baat' programme this time will be a special one with Obama, who will be the chief guest at this year's Republic Day, is also participating.

"This month's 'Mann Ki Baat' episode will be a special one, where our Republic Day guest @BarackObama & I will share our thoughts together," Modi had tweeted some days back.

The Prime Minister has been addressing the nation over radio every month since October last through the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme.

When Modi had visited the US in September last year, he and Obama had written a joint Op-Ed in a major American daily.

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BJP has put Advani in cold storage: Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday criticized the BJP for putting its senior leader LK Advani in "cold storage".

"The BJP in new avatar has put Advani in cold storage by placing him in 'margdarshan mandal'," Nitish Kumar said at a party meeting to celebrate the birth anniversary of socialist icon Karpoori Thakur here.

His comments came after BJP president Amit Shah blamed him for the return of "jungle raj" in the state as the Janata Dal-United leader has joined hands with RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

"The BJP's propaganda machinery is so much strong that even a lie is turned into a truth. Beware of it. This was the principal of (former German ruler Adolf) Hitler also," he said.

In a reply to Shah, Nitish Kumar said what is bad if I was dreaming to become the prime minister of the country. "Is it a sin to dream to become the prime minister, after all I also belong to backward caste."

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