Modi chooses Jaitley to handle govt image

November 11, 2014

ModiNew Delhi, Nov 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to play the role of chief spokesperson of the government by giving him additional charge of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry.

Jaitley was on Sunday freed of the defence portfolio so that he could concentrate on the next budget and economic reforms. Jaitley was also told by Modi that his relations with the media would help in shaping the government's image.

Besides, Modi has indicated that he wants to ensure that his message reaches the people through official media like All India Radio and Doordarshan. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sources said Jaitley’s stewardship of the I&B Ministry would help this objective.

Initially, Jaitley was reluctant to take up the additional role, saying he was busy with next year’s budget. This will be the first full-fledged budget of the Modi government. Left to himself, Jaitley would have preferred additional charge of the Law and Justice Ministry, which was given to D V Sadananda Gowda after he was removed as Railway Minister to make way for Suresh Prabhu. But Modi is understood to have persuaded Jaitley to take up additional charge of the I&B Ministry. On two occasions, Modi had asked Jaitley to make mega announcements on fixing the price of natural gas and allocation of coal mines by auction.

With his new role as I&B Minister, Jaitley was told that he would be back to performing his earlier role as one of the BJP’s important spokespersons, appearing regularly on news shows to promote the government's stand and the party line.

The assignment for Jaitley also underscores Modi's move to strengthen the government's communication strategy, which first saw the prime minister’s interaction with journalists for the first time and then with some editors recently. Hitherto, Modi had chosen not to interact with media personnel, instead preferring to convey his messages through Twitter and other social media outlets.

In his first day in office as I&B Minister, Jaitley said, “I have been the I&B Minister in the past but then there was more print media than electronic media.

“ Today, there had been a lot of growth of radio and digital media. There was a time when the major work of this ministry was Doordarshan and All India Radio.

“It is still a major area,” but the ministry would have to look at the changed information process scenario” he said.

Later in the day, as the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party attacked Modi for the Cabinet reshuffle, Jaitley defended his government.

Jaitley said the Congress had made “unfounded charges” against ministers. “It is not right to make such baseless allegations against the new ministers,” he said.

“As long as there is no moral turpitude in the cases against the new ministers, there is nothing wrong.”

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News Network
February 26,2020

Mumbai, Feb 26: Observing that the violence in Delhi is akin to a "horror film" depicting the grim reality of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said the "bloodbath" has brought disrepute to the national capital like never before while US President Donald Trump was in India with the "message of love".

The editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana' lamented that Trump was welcomed in Delhi while there was bloodbath on the streets.

It further said that the violence could potentially spread the message that the Central government has failed to maintain the law and order situation in Delhi.

"Violence has erupted in Delhi. People are on the streets equipped with canes, swords, revolvers, blood is being spilled on the roads. Some horror film-like situation is being witnessed in Delhi, which depicts the grim reality of the 1984 riots," the Sena said.

It further said the BJP was still blaming the Congress for the deaths of hundreds of Sikhs in the violence that was erupted after assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

It needs to be unravelled who is responsible for the current riots in Delhi, the Sena said while referring to the "language of threats and warning used by some BJP leaders".

"The national capital was burning at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting US President Trump were holding talks.

"It does not augur well that Trump was welcomed in Delhi with the horror film of violence, bloodbath on the streets, screams of people, and tear gases. Trump saheb came to Delhi with a message of love, but what unfolded before him? 'Namaste' in Ahmedabad and violence in Delhi. Never before Delhi was defamed like this," the editorial said.

Trump had begun his February 24-25 India visit from Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

Seventeen people have died so far and over hundred were injured in the violence that has gripped several parts of north east Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) since Sunday.

Attacking the Central government over reports that the violence was timed with Trump's visit, Sena said, "the Union Home Ministry has alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to defame India internationally by triggering the violence during Trump's visit to the national capital.

"The Home Ministry not knowing about the conspiracy behind the violence over the CAA is detrimental to national security. There is no problem in controlling the riots with the same courage with which Article 370 and 35A were scrapped," the editorial said.

It further said the anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi was yet to be called off yet despite the Supreme Court appointing mediators.

"It is being said that the violence sparked off after some BJP leaders talked the language of threats and warning. So, did someone want the peaceful agitation (at Shaheen Bagh) to acquire the present form of riots? (They) could have waited for at least Trump to leave the country," the Sena said.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party also questioned the timing of the riots, which are occurring days after the results of the Delhi assembly polls.

"It is mysterious that the violence broke out days after the BJP lost the Delhi assembly elections. The BJP lost and now this is the condition of Delhi," the Sena said.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party, a former ally of the BJP, now shares power in Maharashtra with the NCP and the Congress.

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News Network
May 10,2020

Mumbai, May 10: Air India, which is operating flights to evacuate Indians stranded in foreign countries, have asked its pilots to undertake coronavirus test before they operate such flights, the sources said.

"Five Air India pilots have tested positive for coronavirus. These pilots were tested one after one. We suspect it could be a case of faulty testing kit as well," one of the sources said.

The five pilots fly Boeing 787 planes, the second source said.

Air India spokesperson did not offer any comment.

A senior airline official said the five pilots had not operated any flight in the last three weeks.

"These pilots had operated cargo flights to China prior to April 20," the official said.

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News Network
March 23,2020

New Delhi, Mar 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday appealed to state governments to ensure that rules and regulations of the coronavirus lockdown are enforced as he noted that many people are not taking the measure seriously.

"Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request state governments to ensure rules and laws are followed," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

The Centre and state governments have decided to completely lock down 80 districts across the country where coronavirus cases have been reported.

Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala announced lockdown in many districts.

Delhi will be locked down from 6 am on March 23 till midnight on March 31.

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