Back off, angry govt tells Obama

July 17, 2012
angry_obama

New Delhi, July 17: A day after US President Barack Obama's call for lifting of foreign investment curbs by India, the government on Monday shot back asking Washington not to meddle with the country's internal affairs and suggested that the world's largest economy should lead the fight against protectionism. The statement came amid protests from the Opposition, which asked the government not succumb to US pressure.

"He (Obama) has every right to convey what his perceptions are but the policymaking is a sovereign decision and India's FDI policy regime is investor-friendly," commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma said at a press conference while referring to various reports to argue that India remained one of the most attractive investment destinations.

"...by all indications it is the regime, the climate that we have created in India through various policy measures, reforms, simplification, rationalization. We have followed a calibrated approach in following the path of economic reforms," the minister said.

By evening the Prime Minister's Office too got into the act and pulled out a recent Unctad report to make the same points that Sharma had made earlier on Monday. "India is the third most desirable destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)- UNCTAD World Investmnent (sic) Report 2012," the PMO tweeted. It then went on to say that China and India saw inflows rise 8% and 31%, respectively.

Interestingly, when the UNCTAD report was released earlier this month, it went largely unnoticed with only corporate affairs minister Veerappa Moily talking about it.

In an interview, Obama had said that that India prohibits foreign investment in too many sectors such as retail and endorsed another wave of economic reforms. "It is still too hard to invest in India. In too many sectors, such as retail, India limits or prohibits the foreign investment...which is necessary for India to continue to grow," he had said.

Interestingly, in contrast to government's angry retaliation, Congress came up with a stoic response, advising all "not to get hot under collar".

The BJP reacted strongly with former finance minister Yashwant Sinha describing it as irresponsible and said the country did not need his advice on the investment climate or FDI in multi-brand retail. "If we have a problem it will be sorted out among ourselves. As far as FDI in multi-brand retail is concerned, his advice is completely unsolicited. He has not strengthened the cause by making such remarks," he said.

On its part, CPM termed the US president's statement as "a brazen attempt" to pressurize the UPA government. Asking the government not to succumb to this "pressure", the CPI(M) politburo said the party "objects to the remarks made by Obama that India open the doors to Wal-Mart for retail trade and other American investments in India."

The government, which has been pushing for allowing retail chains to set up multi-brand stores in the country, did not comment on it but asked the US to focus on removing barriers to trade such as a hike in visa fees.

"We would rather urge the US to demonstrate leadership in bringing down barriers, encouraging capital flows and trade in the world which is good for every economy. The US should be leading the fight against protectionism and taking forward the stalled Doha Development Round of the WTO to a meaningful conclusion," Sharma added.

Congress said there was "no need to get hot under the collar" over Obama's remarks on "deteriorating" investment climate in India, contending that a mature democracy should take the observations in its stride and move on.

"I think the one thing the world understood in the past 62 years is that whatever decision India takes ...it takes in its own enlightened national interest," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters.

He said there was "no need to get hot under the collar" if certain statements are made by certain distinguished people or even if comments are made by certain newspapers and magazines.

"If at all there is any need to clarify, those clarifications have been given.....and I think as a matured democracy we should factor these observations in our stride and move on", Tewari added.


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News Network
March 16,2020

New Delhi, Mar 16: A total of 110 cases of coronavirus, including 17 foreign nationals have been confirmed across India, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Sunday.

The maximum positive cases have been reported from Maharashtra (32), followed by Kerala (22).

The total number of passengers screened at airports is 12,76,046, the ministry said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that Europe has become the new 'epicentre' of the coronavirus pandemic that has infected more than 15 lakh people with over 6,000 deaths globally.

The virus had first emerged in China's Wuhan city in December last year.

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Agencies
July 7,2020

New Delhi, Jul 7: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued revised guidelines regarding the conduct of terminal semesters and final year exams by Universities and educational institutions. It has been suggested that exams may be completed by September in online or offline modes.

Releasing a statement, the UGC said it accepted the recommendations suggested by the expert committee. "In continuation to earlier Guidelines issued on 29.04.2020 and based on the Report of the Expert Committee, the UGC Revised Guidelines on Examination and Academic Calendar for the Universities in view of COVID-19 Pandemic were also approved by the Commission in its emergent meeting held on 6th July 2020," the statement read.

The Commission further said that while it was important to safeguard principles of health, safety and equal opportunities, it was also very important to ensure academic credibility, career opportunities and future progress of students.

"The Commission approved the recommendations of the Expert Committee regarding the conduct of terminal semester(s)/ final year(s) examinations by the universities/ institutions to be completed by the end of September 2020 in offline (pen & paper online/ blended (online + offline) mode," it added.

The UGC also said that if required it would also issue relevant details related to admissions and academic calendar in the universities and colleges. It asked the students to adopt the latest guidelines and complete the terminal semester or final year exams accordingly. 

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News Network
March 10,2020

New Delhi, Mar 10: A military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) brought back 58 Indians from coronavirus-hit Iran on Tuesday, official said.

The aircraft, a C-17 Globemaster, was sent to Tehran on Monday evening.

About 2,000 Indians are living in Iran, a country that has witnessed increasing numbers of coronavirus cases in the last few days.

"The IAF aircraft has landed. Mission completed. On to the next," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted.

In an earlier tweet, he said, "First batch of 58 Indian pilgrims being brought back from Iran. IAF C-17 taken off from Tehran and expected to land soon in Hindon."

"Thanks to the efforts of our Embassy @India_in_Iran and Indian medical team there, operating under challenging conditions. Thank you @IAF_MCC. Appreciate cooperation of Iranian authorities. We are working on the return of other Indians stranded there (sic)," Jaishankar added.

The aircraft landed at Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad, from where the passengers were take to a medical facility.

According to latest reports, 237 people have died of novel coronavirus in Iran while the number of positive cases stands at around 7,000.

It is the second such evacuation by the C-17 Globemaster in the last two weeks.

On February 27, 76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals were brought back from the Chinese city of Wuhan by the aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

The C-17 Globemaster is the largest military aircraft in the IAF's inventory. The plane can carry large combat equipment, troops and humanitarian aid across long distances in all weather conditions.

Four days ago, a Mahan airline plane brought swab samples of 300 Indians from Iran to India.

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