Indian media has no credibility, says Vijay Mallya

October 28, 2012

Greater Noida, October 28: Exactly a week after the government suspended Kingfisher's licence to fly, the airline's near bankrupt chief Vijay Mallya flew in from London on his private jet and headed to the F1 circuit on Saturday and slammed the Indian media.

"You believe that Indian papers have any credibility?" Mallya said in response to coverage of Kingfisher troubles. "There is no libel law in India so there is nothing you can do to bring them to book."

Downplaying the KFA crisis, Mallya in fact blamed the media for "blowing out of proportion" the issue that saw an employee's wife committing suicide as the airline had till this week not paid salaries since March.

"My CEO Sanjay Agarwal has said what was to be said. We will recapitalize the airline. We are doing our work (to restart operations) internally and will respond to DGCA. We have infused Rs 1,200 crore into Kingfisher this fiscal since April, 2012. How I do that (recapitalize) is for me to decide and whenever there is something to be conveyed, it will be," Mallya said.

Mallya walked into the paddock at the Buddh International Circuit, where mediapersons were in a large attendance. If there was speculation about his swagger being muted, he changed that impression the moment he chose to talk.

In a tweet ahead of his appearance, Mallya had said, "At the Buddh International F1 circuit.Sahara Force India qualifying prospects are secondary. Even sports journos focus only on Kingfisher." And another said: "I have learnt the hard way that in India wealth should not be displayed. Better to be a multi billionaire politician dressed in Khadi."

KFA's licence was suspended last Saturday as the airline had reportedly not paid employees, airports, the tax department and other vendors for months. Its debt-cum-losses topped Rs 15,500 crore.

However, Mallya put up a brave front and said he had played a role in reaching a settlement with employees who had threatened protest at the F1 venue as he had been abroad ever since the trouble at Kingfisher took a turn for the worse this month.

"There is no question of any protest or disturbance. First of all you can't get in here and you know that. Outside the track is 15km away and if they wanted to say something to me, they needn't come to Noida, they could have come to my house...I have always been available and if you are trying to say that whatever settlement was reached was without my participation, you are wrong... if I am not at my home grand prix, why should I be anywhere else?" Mallya said.

Reacting to Airports Authority of India looking into legal aspects of seizing his personal AirbusCorporate Jet to recover dues of Rs 293 crore, he said, "Wonderful. I don't owe anybody money. Why should my plane be at risk. It's so stupid."

Aviation minister Ajit Singh has spoken of the sick airline and said it is "very difficult, though not impossible, for it to restart operations". Accordingly, DGCA chief Arun Mishra has said he will first speak to other stakeholders whom KFA owes money before taking a call on revoking the licence suspension.

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SC asks CBSE to clarify about class 12 internal assessment and 'exams later' option

Agencies

June 25,2020

New Delhi, Jun 25: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre and the CBSE to issue fresh notification in connection with Class 12 exams, clarifying the option between internal assessment and exams later.

The observation from the top court after it was informed that the CBSE has decided to cancel the remaining board exams for Class 10 and Class 12.

A bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna asked the Centre to clarify the issue of taking the option between internal assessment and exams later.

"Clarify the date of results," said the bench, noting that the CBSE will have to submit a fresh draft notification cancelling class 12 Board exams and affidavit on Friday morning, before the top court continues to hear the matter again at 10.30 a.m.

The apex court also sought clarity on the beginning of the new academic year.

It told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, that the CBSE is willing to conduct exams when the situation is conducive, but this may vary from state to state. "Will the decision be taken by a central authority or will the state government take the decision? How are you going to deal with that situation?"

Mehta replied that the decision must be taken according to the situation. To this, the bench said should not the solution be pan-India?

"You have not said when you will decide on this issue, and when you will take stock of these things. Some time frame will have to be given," noted the bench.

Continuing its queries, the bench said: "What about state regional board exams... the CBSE does not hold all the exams. The state Board is also there."

Mehta replied that the instructions from the controller of examinations are that exams are controlled centrally. "State boards assist the CBSE," he replied.

The bench observed that the government should modify the draft notification and include the state board issue. "Clear the stand that decision will be taken at the central level and not at the state level... other courses will have to be delayed till CBSE exam results come out," it said.

Mehta replied the assessment results will be published now, and if a student wants to opt to give the exam, then that will be conducted later. The top court asked Mehta to bring this on record and redraft the notification.

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Chhattisgarh minister TS Singh Deo calls Scindia power-hungry leader for ditching Congress

News Network

March 13,2020

Raipur, Mar 13: Calling Jyotiraditya Scindia a "power-hungry" leader, Chhattisgarh Minister and Congress leader TS Singh Deo on Friday said that if someone joins another party to occupy the top position of the state that he should never become a Chief Minister.

When enquired if Deo has any plans to join the BJP in the future, he quickly said that he would never be able to relate himself with the "ideology" of the party.

"People may make claims but I will never join BJP, even if I get 100 lives I will never associate with that ideology. A person who joins BJP for not being able to become Chief Minister should never become a Chief Minister," he said while speaking to media in Raipur.

"A single person does not remain as captain forever, Kapil Dev got his chance when Gavaskar was there. Currently, Virat Kohli is the captain but in T20 there are different captains. Will Kohli join Pakistan's team if he is not made the captain? This is beyond understanding."

On Wednesday, Scindia joined BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party President JP Nadda. He had resigned from Congress a day earlier after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He will file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on March 13.

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May it be Scindia or some other, misusing power cheating with citizens mandate for their self benifit "very soon the fare and best judgement from the creator will be their very soon. No one is greatro than the creator.

For citizens well fare creator is opinion and protect always there. Hope MP people always with faith on creator.

Jai Hind !

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Kerala HC refuses to extend US citizen's stay who 'felt safer in India' amid covid-19

Agencies

July 30,2020

Kochi, Jul 30: The Kerala High Court on Thursday refused to grant the extension for the stay of a 74-year-old US citizen, Johnny Paul Pierce, who had earlier said that he felt safer to remain in India than in the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The single-judge bench of Justice CS Dias, which considered the writ petition, observed that the grant or extension of visa to foreign nationals fall exclusively within the domain of the Government of India (GoI) and that judicial review in such matters is minimal.

The power of the GoI to expel foreigners is absolute and unlimited, the bench said.

"In view of the categoric declaration of law by the Supreme Court, the plea of the petitioner to permit him to stay back in India cannot be accepted, as it falls within the purview of the guidelines and the discretion of the Government of India," the order said.

"The petitioner cannot be heard that the guidelines/policies/regulations formulated by the Government of India, that an American national though has been granted a visa having validity of five years has to leave India within 180 days, is irrational or unreasonable," it added.

The High Court, which was hearing a plea to permit the US citizen to stay in India for a further period of six months, said that the petitioner does not have a case that there is an infraction of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

"The petitioner was well aware of the visa conditions when he arrived in India, and it is too late in the day for him to raise a grievance on the visa conditions," the bench said noting that the petitioner's love for India was heartening.

The High Court also directed the Foreigners Registration Officer to consider the petitioner's representation within a period of two weeks in accordance with the applicable guidelines and policies.

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