Form MeToo panel : Maneka to parties
New Delhi: In the backdrop of the MeToo movement, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi urged all recognised political parties to form internal committees immediately to look into complaints of sexual harassment. Maneka said she has written to six national parties and 59 regional parties to form internal complaints committee against sexual harassment and post information on it on their website.
Rafale deal: Rahul attacks Modi Govt
New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacked the Modi Government over the Rafale deal alleging that it renegotiated the contract to benefit crony capitalists and reduced India's prestige globally. In a Facebook post, Gandhi said due to the renegotiated deal, India could not get transfer of technology as negotiated during the UPA rule and it was shameful that Indian pilots have to put their lives at risk flying the ancient Jaguar aircraft as the new technology did not come into the country.
No Rafale impact on India-France ties: MEA
New Delhi: India said the controversy surrounding the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France has not impacted the strong ties between the two strategic partners at all. "We continue to enjoy very strong relationship with France. It is our strategic partner. I can say that this (Rafale controversy) has not impacted our relationship at all," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
Lankan PM on 3-day visit to India
New Delhi: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived on a three-day visit with an aim to boost ties in a range of areas, including trade and investment and maritime security. His visit comes in the backdrop of controversial media reports that Lankan President has accused Indian intelligence agency RAW of plotting his assassination, a claim firmly rejected as "false" by Colombo. Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging talks on Saturday.
Need more joint exercises, says Modi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday stressed need to hold more joint exercises by various stake-holders such as the NDMA to improve coordination between agencies in disaster relief management. Chairing the sixth meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority in New Delhi, he reviewed the activities of NDMA to effectively manage and respond to disasters. He also reviewed ongoing projects undertaken by the authority, a brief statement by the Prime Minister's Office said.
Women should be treated well: hrd min
New Delhi: Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said women should be treated well everywhere and not only at workplace, as the #MeToo campaign continues to gather steam against sexual harassment faced by women in various spheres. Javadekar refused to comment on resignation of MJ Akbar.
Several records missing from I-T dept
New Delhi: Several records have gone missing from Income Tax department because of restructuring drive in 2001 and 2013, the CIC has been informed. Information Commissioner Bimal Julka noted it in one of the cases heard by him when the tax department could not furnish information about pension fund in NTPC to an RTI applicant.
Akbar attends official meetings
New Delhi: MJ Akbar attended official meetings on Monday and Tuesday as the junior External Affairs Minister after returning from a trip abroad, the Ministry said on Thursday, in first comments on the issue. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said he was not aware of any specific meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Akbar on the allegations levelled against him.
3-nation Envoys present credentials to Prez
New Delhi: Ambassadors of Kuwait, Belgium, Portugal and Cambodia presented their credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, official statement said.