Highlights for Day 36 of Narendra Modi government Development Work
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- Category: National Political News
- Last Updated: Thursday, 22 January 2015 21:00
Highlights for Day 36 of Narendra Modi government Development Work
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Spying is unacceptable India summons US diplomats over snooping of BJP,
India has strongly taken up the issue of the US National Security Agency spying upon the Bharatitya Janata Party and has summoned US diplomats. The government has called the snooping of the BJP 'unacceptable' and has sought assurance from the US that it will not happen again. Though, officials did not say who was the US diplomat summoned by the External Affairs Ministry. Significantly, the US currently has an interim ambassador Kathleen Stephens who came in after former US Ambassador Nancy Powell resigned from her post. India also noted that it had raised the issue with the US administration in Washington and the Embassy here in July and November last year when reports emerged that NSA had spied upon individuals and entities and said it was still "awaiting a response from American on this". India had reacted sharply when the reports of snooping by NSA came to light after revelations by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden last year. This after documents released by Edward Snowden to the Washington post showed how BJP was among 6 foreign political parties being spied upon by US authorities. According to the documents, which have also been accessed by CNN-IBN, the US courts authorized the NSA to spy upon the BJP under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Arun Jaitley hints at hard days ahead, says need to verify dull populism'
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ahead of the Budget, has hinted at tough days ahead. He said that there is a need to decide if India needs fiscal discipline or mindless spending. "Does India need a certain amount of fiscal regulation at this time? Do we need prudence? Or do we need some mindless spending and populism," Jaitley asked. "You have growth which has slowed down. We have a high fiscal deficit. We have a rate of inflation which in comparison to the last two years has somewhat come down but still is beyond the acceptable limit. Our challenges are compounded. We have an uncertain monsoon. The impact of Iraq on the oil prices adds to the challenges," he added. India’s wholesale inflation hit a five-month high of 6.01 per cent in May, underscoring the challenges faced the new government, whose Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned he will administer "bitter medicine" to revive the ailing economy. Food price inflation is near double-digits, with a late monsoon pushing up the cost of vegetables and dairy products. The government has also raised railway fares and fuel prices as crude oil prices have risen on international markets.
Jayalalithaa thanks PM Modi for Mullaperiyar supervisory committee
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for constituting the supervisory committee to implement the order of the Supreme Court on the Mullaperiyar Dam issue. The apex court had ordered increasing the water level to 142 ft. Jayalalithaa said she hopes that the, "Supervisory Committee will accomplish the task of restoration of the water storage level in the Mullaperiyar Dam to 142 feet as per the judgment and order of the Supreme Court during the current south West Monsoon period itself."
Following is the full text of Jayalalithaa's letter to Modi: "The Government of Tamil Nadu has received the Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources order constituting the Supervisory Committee to implement the Order of the Supreme Court dated 7.5.2014, on the MullaiPeriyar Dam for increasing the water level initially to 142 ft. You would recall that I had raised this issue in the Memorandum I had presented to you on 3rd June, 2014. I am grateful that on my request the matter was expeditiously placed before the Union Cabinet. I sincerely thank you for your prompt action in acceding to my request and constituting the Supervisory Committee.
Government to take steps to minimize impact of price hike: Delhi BJP
Defending the Centre's decision to hike railway fares and increase in prices of other commodities including gas, petrol, diesel and vegetables, Delhi BJP on Tuesday said the Narendra Modi government will take steps to minimize the impact of these decisions on the common man. At a meeting, chaired by Delhi BJP president and Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, held on Tuesday it was decided that in order to make the party unit more effective, district in-charges will visit their respective 'mandals' within a week to hold meetings in this connection. "Several party leaders expressed their concern over the financial decisions taken recently by the Central government and were confident that the government will shortly take steps so that the impact of these decisions is minimized, services provided by the government are improved and people get maximum benefits,"
-- Written By Aadil Mir --