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A French judge has been appointed to lead a "highly sensitive" judicial investigation into alleged "<keyword id="46183" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Corruption">corruption</keyword> and favouritism" in the Rs 59,000 crore <keyword id="6381048" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="rafale">Rafale</keyword> fighter jet deal with India, French investigative website Mediapart reported. Following the development, Congress chief spokesperson <keyword id="498878" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Randeep-Surjewala">Randeep Surjewala</keyword> on Saturday urged Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> to come forward and order a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal. "Corruption in the Rafale deal has come out clearly now. The stand of the Congress party and <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> has been vindicated today after the French government has ordered a probe," he told reporters at a press conference. However, there was no immediate reaction from the Indian government or the BJP. The Mediapart said the probe into the inter-governmental deal signed in 2016 was formally opened on June 14. "A judicial probe into suspected corruption has been opened in France over the 7.8-billion-euro sale to India in 2016 of 36 Dassault-built Rafale fighter aircraft," the Mediapart reported on the latest development on the controversial deal. It said the investigation has been initiated by the national financial prosecutors' office (PNF). The judicial investigation has been ordered by France's national financial prosecutors' office, following Mediapart's fresh reports in April of alleged wrongdoings in the deal as well as a complaint filed by French NGO Sherpa that specialises in financial crime. "The highly sensitive probe into the inter-governmental deal signed off in 2016 was formally opened on June 14th," the media report said. Mediapart journalist Yann Philippin, who filed a series of reports on the deal, said a first complaint was "buried" in 2019 by a former PNF chief. "The judicial investigation was finally opened following the revelations of the investigation #RafalePapers of @mediapart and a new complaint from @Asso_Sherpa. A 1st complaint was buried in 2019 by the former PNF boss, Eliane Houlette," he tweeted. In April, Mediapart, citing an investigation by the country's anti-corruption agency, reported that Dassault Aviation had paid about one million Euros to an Indian middleman. Dassault Aviation has rejected the allegations of corruption, saying no violations were reported in the frame of the contract. The <keyword id="105903" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Democratic-Alliance">National Democratic Alliance</keyword> (NDA) government had inked a Rs 59,000-crore deal on September 23, 2016, to procure 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace major Dassault Aviation after a nearly seven-year exercise to procure 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the <keyword id="15141" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> did not fructify during the <keyword id="83449" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-Progressive-Alliance">United Progressive Alliance</keyword> (UPA) regime. The Congress accused the government of massive irregularities in the deal, alleging that it was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government during the negotiations for the MMRCA. Prior to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, the Congress raised several questions about the deal and alleged corruption but the government rejected all the charges. SEE ALSO- <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/bharatpes-banking-licence-digits-funding-mswipes-new-ceo-and-more-mega-deals-and-launches-in-indias-fintech-space-/slidelist/84085401.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">BharatPe’s banking licence, Digit’s funding, Mswipe’s new CEO and more -- mega deals and launches in India’s fintech space</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/google-crypto-tokens-binances-regulatory-troubles-free-nfts-and-more/slidelist/84086617.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Google’s crypto tokens, Binance’s regulatory troubles, free NFTs and more — Here’s what happened in the world of crypto this past week</a>

India's deal to buy Rafale fighter jets will face a judicial probe for alleged corruption in France

<keyword id="5652234" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pushkar-Singh-Dhami">Pushkar Singh Dhami</keyword> will be the new chief minister of <keyword id="44522" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword> following his election on Saturday as the leader of the BJP legislature party in the hill state where assembly polls are due next year. The 45-year-old will be the youngest chief minister of the state and replaces <keyword id="1498654" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tirath-Singh-Rawat">Tirath Singh Rawat</keyword>, who resigned on Friday night within four months of taking charge from <keyword id="2253089" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trivendra-Singh-Rawat">Trivendra Singh Rawat</keyword>. Dhami will be sworn in on Sunday, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters after a legislature party meeting at the state BJP headquarters where he was a central observer. "My party has appointed a common worker, son of an ex-serviceman, who was born in the border district of Pithoragarh to serve the people. "We'll work on people's issues with the cooperation of all. I will carry forward the work done by my predecessors," Dhami, a two-time MLA from Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district, said. As Dhami takes over less than a year ahead of the next assembly elections, his biggest challenge lies in leading the BJP to another victory and retaining power in Uttarakhand, where the party has been plagued by factionalism. Changing chief ministers twice in a short span has not helped the party's image, with the opposition Congress accusing it of causing "political instability" and betraying the people. "We accept the challenge and we will take forward the party and serve the people," Dhami said when asked whether taking over as CM just months ahead of assembly polls will be an uphill task. The chief minister-elect thanked the party leadership for reposing faith in him and said that he will work with everyone's cooperation. Dhami's name was proposed by outgoing chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat and Pradesh BJP president Madan Kaushik and seconded by a number of MLAs, including former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Tomar told reporters outside the state BJP headquarters here. No other name was proposed for BJP legislature party leader, Tomar said. Soon after his unanimous election as the BJP legislature party leader, Dhami headed for the Raj Bhawan along with a number of MLAs and the central observers to stake his claim to form the government. The BJP had replaced Trivendra Singh Rawat with Tirath Singh Rawat on March 10, hoping to go into the assembly polls with the new face, but he too was asked to step down as the Constitution required him to get elected as a member of the state assembly within six months of his appointment as CM and there seemed an increasing uncertainty over the Election Commission holding bypolls at this stage. The opposition Congress hit out at the BJP leadership, saying instead of ushering in development, it has thrown Uttarakhand into the throes of political instability and betrayed its people by repeatedly changing chief ministers. Starting with Nityananad Swami, the BJP will have eight chief ministers in the state, senior Congress leader <keyword id="180100" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harish-Rawat">Harish Rawat</keyword> said, and added that in the latest four and a half years of the BJP's rule in Uttarakhand, there will be three chief ministers. "The BJP's high drama in Dehradun is an insult to the people of Uttarakhand. The prime minister had promised to give a double-engine government, but the state only received different chief ministers and no development," Harish Rawat, a former chief minister, said. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the BJP has betrayed the people and Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> and BJP chief J P Nadda are responsible. "This is BJP's example of lust for power, political instability, sharing fruits of power and failure of leadership. Instead of serving the people of Uttarakhand, they tried to distribute power, and <keyword id="2238662" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM-Modi">PM Modi</keyword> and J P Nadda are responsible for this. The BJP has brought Uttarakhand to such a turn where power means only sharing its fruits and nothing else," he alleged. Ending days of speculation about a change of guard in the state, Tirat Singh Rawat on Friday handed over his resignation letter to Governor Baby Rani Maurya past 11 pm, hours after returning from <keyword id="66" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword> where he was summoned by the top BJP leadership on Wednesday. The names of nearly half a dozen MLAs were doing the rounds as probables for the top job, including Chaubattakhal MLA and cabinet minister Satpal Maharaj, Shrinagar MLA Dhan Singh Rawat and Khatima MLA Pushkar Singh Dhami. Interacting with reporters at his official residence after returning from the Raj Bhawan, Tirath Singh Rawat said, "I thought it was appropriate to resign as the state was facing a constitutional crisis under the provisions of section 151 A and 164 of the Representation of People Act." SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-is-working-on-a-new-app-to-let-you-store-your-medical-records/articleshow/84059948.cms">Google is working on a new app to let you store your medical records</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/battlegrounds-mobile-india-official-download-link-how-to-update-bgmi-rewards/articleshow/84058116.cms">Battlegrounds Mobile India launched officially – here’s how to update, claim rewards and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/failure-to-pivot-covid-19-blues-force-amazon-backed-shuttl-to-look-for-a-buyer/articleshow/84056797.cms">Failure to pivot, COVID-19 blues force Amazon-backed Shuttl to look for a buyer</a>

Pushkar Singh Dhami to be the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand replacing Tirath Singh Rawat

New Delhi, Nov 16 () After the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal rejected Rahul Gandhi's plea to consider Young Indian (YI) as a charitable institution, the Congress said Saturday Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "his cronies" can not change the "inalienable truth" that YI is a not-for-profit company.
Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others have been accused of paying just Rs 50 lakh through which YI obtained the ownership of the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which owed Rs 90.25 crore to the Congress party.
The BJP said AJL has properties worth more than Rs 2,000 crore. In July last year, the Income Tax department asked the YI to pay tax of around Rs 145 crore.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters, "What is subjudice need not be commented upon. It may look like a setback for certain news channels, to certain news channels, but, I can assure you, the majesty of law will prevail and the truth out in the open is that Young Indian is a not-for-profit company and neither Mr. Modi nor his cronies can change this inalienable truth."
At a press conference later, BJP leader and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that the Congress's ruling family amassed properties worth more than Rs 2,000 crore through investment of just Rs 50 lakh in AJL and dubbed it the "family model of development". DSP DSP ABH
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Mr. Modi, 'his cronies' can not change truth that YI is not-for-profit company: Cong

The Congress alleged on Thursday that the Modi government has been "caught snooping" after <keyword id="790242" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="WhatsApp">WhatsApp</keyword> said that journalists and human rights activists in India have been targets of surveillance, as it urged the Supreme Court to hold the Centre accountable over the issue. Facebook-owned WhatsApp said Indian journalists and human rights activists were among those globally spied upon by unnamed entities using an Israeli <keyword id="48511" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Spyware">spyware</keyword> Pegasus. "Modi govt caught snooping! Appalling but not Surprising! After all, BJP Govt- 1. Fought against our right to privacy. 2. Set up a multi crore Surveillance Structure until stopped by SC. SC must take immediate cognisance and issue notice to BJP government," Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a tweet. "A government that spies on journalists/activists/Opposition leaders and treats its own citizens like criminals has lost the right to lead in our democracy. We urge the SC to take suo motu cognizance of these illegal activities and to hold this government to account," he said in another tweet. WhatsApp said it was suing <keyword id="3598670" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="NSO-Group">NSO Group</keyword>, an Israeli surveillance firm, that is reportedly behind the technology that helped unnamed entities' spies to hack into phones of roughly 1,400 users. These users span across four continents and included diplomats, political dissidents, journalists and senior government officials. However, it did not say on whose behest the phones of journalists and activists across the world were targeted. Tagging a media report which claimed that 1.3 million Indian payment card details are up for sale on the dark web, Surjewala also alleged that "data theft and data fraud" has become the norm since Modi government came to power. "Is this why Modi ji calls Data the new Oil (for BJP Machine?). 1.3 million Indian Payment Card Details are up for sale on Dark Web putting the card holders vulnerable to yet another synchronised fraud," he said. ASK SOM

Indian Supreme Court asked to hold government accountable for WhatsApp hack after accusations of 'snooping'

<ul><li><keyword id="71345" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sachin-Pilot">Sachin Pilot</keyword> along with two other Rajasthan cabinet minister — Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena— were removed from their respective post on July 14, reported ANI citing Congress. </li><li>The development came after Congress Legislature Party held its second meeting on July 14 morning with no sign of Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot making an appearance. </li><li>Pilot has been upset since he was denied the Rajasthan chief minister's post after the December 2018 assembly elections.</li></ul> The Indian National Congress has reportedly sacked Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM of Rajasthan and Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief, reported ANI citing Congress leader RS Surjewala. Along with Pilot, Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena were also removed from the Rajasthan Cabinet. <div type="twitter" handle="ANI" handlename="ANI" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1497864299/ani_mic_logo_normal.jpg" favoritecount="3177" retweetcount="560" status="Sachin Pilot removed as Deputy Chief Minister, announces Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala #Rajasthan https://t.co/5tj3TJxZe8" createdat="1594714048000" id="1282949822396239874"></div> " I regret that Sachin Pilot and some of his associates have been swayed by BJP's plot and are now conspiring to topple the Congress govt elected by 8 crore Rajasthanis. It is unacceptable," RS Surjewala, Congress told ANI. <div type="twitter" handle="ANI" handlename="ANI" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1497864299/ani_mic_logo_normal.jpg" favoritecount="360" retweetcount="39" status="#WATCH: I regret that Sachin Pilot and some of his associates have been swayed by BJP's plot and are now conspiring… https://t.co/vmzGqS66M7" createdat="1594715255000" id="1282954887181942784"></div> The development came after Congress Legislature Party held its second meeting on July 14 morning with no sign of Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot making an appearance. Ahead of the meeting, Congress general secretary Avinash Pande issued another appeal to Pilot, who had skipped the first CLP meeting at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's home on Monday. Eighteen other Congress MLAs also did not attend Monday's meeting, according to sources. But independents and MLAs from other parties participated, expressing support for Gehlot. Tuesday's meeting was said to be a second chance for Pilot, who is also the president of the state unit of the party. But MLAs considered close to Pilot were again not seen there. Some of them have indicated that they would prefer a show of strength in the 200-member state assembly. The Congress meeting was held at a resort where Gehlot and other MLAs are camping since Monday. "I appeal to Sachin Pilot and all his fellow MLAs to join today's Legislature Party meeting, Avinash Pande, who is the Rajasthan in-charge at the AICC, tweeted Tuesday morning. While expressing your faith in the ideology and values of the Congress, please make your presence felt and strengthen the hands of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," he said. He told reporters that a second chance is being given to Pilot and hoped that all MLAs come and extend solidarity with the leadership for which people voted to ensure the state's development. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Monday night announced the summoning of second CLP meeting, amid attempts by the party's top leadership to woo back dissidents led by Pilot. Former party president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are among the senior leaders who had been in touch with Pilot, sources said. Party leaders had said 106 of 122 MLAs from Congress and the allies -- attended Monday's meeting, a claim contested by the Pilot camp. Pilot and his supporters claimed to have the backing of 30 Congress MLAs and some independents. Pilot has been upset since he was denied the Rajasthan chief minister's post after the December 2018 assembly elections. (With inputs from PTI) SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/photographer-of-the-viral-black-panther-images-from-india-shares-his-story/articleshow/76830618.cms">INTERVIEW: Shaaz Jung opens up about the blood, sweat and years behind the viral images of a rare black panther</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/intel-will-speed-up-mukesh-ambanis-5g-run-power-him-with-ai-and-possibly-a-jio-laptop/articleshow/76780290.cms">Intel will speed up Mukesh Ambani’s 5G run, power him with AI and possibly a Jio laptop⁠— all in return for massive amount of data</a>

Congress removes Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM of Rajasthan and as the chief of party's state unit

New Delhi, Feb 23 () A day ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to India, the Congress on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether he would raise with him the issue of easing of the H-1B visas for Indians, the restoration of GSP status and the security concerns vis-a-vis the Taliban.Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala wondered why Prime Minister Modi was "silent" on his "India First" policy as President Trump talked of "America First".He asked whether Modi would ensure cheaper oil for India after it stopped buying oil from Iran in view of US-imposed sanctions and if Indian steel exports would get a boost when New Delhi commits to USD 3 billion in defence purchases."As President Trump arrives tomorrow on February 24, relevant questions on national interest must be asked by every Indian and resolved amicably in India's interests," Surjewala said in a video.He said the Trump government's restrictive immigration policies has clamped down on H-1B visas and one should not forget that 70 percent of all H-1B visas are given to Indian professionals - IT and others.The number of Indians getting visas is 60,000, who go to the US to contribute to the American economy as also back home to India's economy, he said."Trump government's restrictive immigration policies have hit H-1B visas. Indians get 70 pc of 85,000 H-1B visas. Now, Rejection Rate for India has increased from 6 pc in 2015 to 24 pc in 2019, especially for IT professionals."Post the '10-million people' gala event, will Prime Minister Modi take care of national interest and tell President Trump to go easy and permit H-1B visas for Indians, so that our young Indians, our IT professional can contribute to America's growth as also to India's growth story," Surjewala asked.He said as the US prepares to sign a deal with the Taliban on February 29, what about India's red lines. "Have we forgotten IC-814 hijacking and release of terrorist Masood Azhar in Kandhar, who's JeM then attacked Parliament and Pulwama? As gala bash unfolds, Will Modiji raise our national security concerns," he said."We sincerely hope India's interests will not be compromised on account of a deal in Afghanistan."Surjewala said India must also raise its concern about any such deal respecting and honouring the democratic and constitutional process including the just-elected Ashraf Ghani government in Afghanistan."What about the new deal and the new Taliban respecting the democratic process as also the human rights and rights of women in Afghanistan? What about this new deal not creating a space for the terror network thriving in Afghanistan," he asked, citing the Islamic State, the 'Haqqani' network, the Al Qaeda and the Jaish-e-Mohammad.The Congress leader said the US removed India from the duty-free imports regime i.e GSP (generalised system of preferences) in June last year, hitting USD 5.6 billion Indian exports to the US."Post 'Howdy Modi' and 'Namaste Trump' gala events, Will PM ensure restoration of GSP status," he asked."As fest continues in Ahmedabad, Will Modiji secure cheaper oil for India," he added.The Congress leader alleged that India's exports of USD 761 million of steel to the US fell by 50 pc to USD 372 million as the Trump government hiked tariffs on import by 25 pc."As India commits to USD 3 billion defense purchases, why zero relief for India's export of steel," he asked."I think it needs to be resolved in favour of India's steel industry, in favour of getting more revenue, in favour of creating more employment," Surjewala said.US President Trump is on a visit to India from February 24 and 25. SKC ABHABH

Cong asks PM Modi if he will raise H-1B visa, restoration of GSP with Trump

Indian National Congress (INC) candidate list for Haryana Vidhan Sabha elections 2019

New Delhi, Feb 1 () Describing the Union Budget as "insipid" and one that is "all talk and nothing concrete", Opposition parties on Saturday said it does not address the key issue of unemployment or suggest ways to fuel investment to spur economic growth.
While the Congress alleged that the reduction in tax rates did not help the salaried class who have to pay more under the new slabs, the Left parties said it is a "budget of privatisation" and accused the government of abdicating its responsibilities.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said the budget speech was "too long" and Trinamool Congress alleged that the government was lying on tax cuts and one should read the fine print on the so-called IT cuts, as government has removes incentives.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the budget offered no strategic idea or anything concrete and left the issue of unemployment unaddressed, while former finance minister P Chidambaram gave it a score of zero to one out of 10 and asserted that the Modi government has given up on reviving the economy, accelerating growth or creating jobs.
"The main issues confronting this country today are unemployment and the situation as far as the economy is concerned. I did not see any concrete idea, any strategic idea that would help our youngsters get jobs. I saw a lot of tactical stuff, redundant things, I did not see any central idea," Gandhi told reporters.
"I did not find any strategic thing in it. The main issue is employment and economy. There is redundancy and income tax has been complicated instead.
"The government's approach is visible in this budget. It did not have anything in it. It was hollow," he said.
Gandhi said the budget describes the government quite well, which is of "all talking" and nothing concrete. "A lot of repetition, a lot of rambling, nothing concrete. So it is the mindset of the government - all talk, all talk, all talk, nothing happening. But, the country is, of course, is suffering," he said.
Congress leader and senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said the "budget is insipid, lacking in stimulus for growth" and has no clear roadmap for job creation.
The party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the new tax slab for salaried people is "simply 'labyrinth' to mislead people". "Actually, under the new tax slab, people will have to pay more tax than in the old tax slab," he claimed.
At the opposition party's press conference, Chidambaram said the government's claim of 6 to 6.5 per cent growth next year is "astonishing and even irresponsible".
Asked what rating he would give to the budget on a scale of 1 to 10, he took a dig, saying "10 has got a 1 and 0, you can pick either of a number. I am okay with it".
He accused the government of being in "complete denial" about the economy facing a "grave macro economic challenge" and there's nothing in the Budget that leads one to believe that growth will revive in 2020-21.
"It was a laundry list of old (that is current) programmes," he said.
If the ongoing programmes have failed the people, how can throwing more money into the ongoing programmes change anything, he asked.
"The government has given up on reviving the economy or accelerating the growth rate or promoting private investment or increasing efficiency or creating jobs or winning a greater share of world trade," he said.
The Indian economy is demand-constrained and investment-starved, and the finance minister has not acknowledged these two challenges, and "that is a pity", he said.
He asked how one could call it a budget about caring the society when food and fertilizers subsidies have been reduced. "I think this talk about caring society is more words than deeds. Once we drill into the numbers, we will know how caring they are or how uncaring they are."
Slamming the budget's proposal to sell a part of the government's share in LIC, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC president Mamata Banerjee on Saturday described it as a plan to "ambush" the legacy of public institutions.
"I am shocked and appalled to see how the central government plans to ambush the heritage and legacy of public institutions. It's the end of sense of security. Is it also an end of an era?" the CM tweeted.
CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury criticised the budget, saying it did nothing to alleviate "people's miseries".
"The less you have to say longer will be the speech. The budget has completely failed to address the current economic slowdown. It does not have a road map on how the economy can be turned around," he said.
"Just platitudes and slogans. Nothing substantial to alleviate peoples' misery, the growing unemployment, rural wage crash, farmers' distress suicides and galloping prices," he said.
CPI general secretary, D Raja said that said that the Union Budget was a budget exposed how the government is abdicating all its responsibilities by privatising public assets.
"This budget is a budget for privatization and everything is to be done using PPP route including railways, health and infrastructure," he said.
"No hope to be seen in the budget for the millions of unemployed youth of the country," he said.
The All India Forward Bloc said that the budget was "an offer to sell India" and said it includes large scale privatization and disinvestment of national assets.
Opposition leader Sharad Yadav said the economic growth is at a low of 4.5 per cent and the issue of unemployment has become grave but the budget offers nothing to tackle these problems.
It does not touch on the issues like farmer suicides, poverty, rising inflation, cases of bank frauds, he said, demanding that Sitharaman should "apologise" for "ruining" the economy. SKC ASK ASG KR SKC ABH
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Oppn dubs budget as insipid, slams govt for 'all talk, nothing concrete'

NEW DELHI: The BJP vs Congress war over Robert Vadra's land deals shows no signs of abating with the saffron party asserting that the Rajasthan government will begin its probe into the controversial deals next month and questioning the "silence" of party chief Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the transactions. 
 
BJP declared Vadra's deals will be investigated in Rajasthan, where CM Vasundhara Raje will ensure a thorough probe once the Lok Sabha polls end on May 16. BJP said the silence of Congress's top duo only added to suspicions that the "family" had something to hide on the land deals, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said. 
 
Former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari also chipped in from Lucknow where he was campaigning for Rajnath Singh, saying the UPA government should either set up a judicial probe into Vadra's dealings or Sonia should file a defamation suit if the allegations against her son-in-law are baseless. 
 
Sitharaman added, "It is not an issue of vendetta politics. It is more an issue of an electoral promise given by Raje that she will definitely look into all the malpractices of the Gehlot government and Vadra is one of these ... once the model code is lifted ... law will take its due course." 
 
Congress retaliated by dismissing BJP's threats, saying the saffron party had got "nervous" because of Priyanka Gandhi's effective campaign. "It is very clear BJP is panicking due to Priyanka Gandhi's campaign in Rae Bareli and Amethi. Her campaign is resonating across the country," party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said, describing the information in a CD and booklet released by BJP as "trash allegations made by an elementary school kid". But BJP is showing no signs of easing its attacks on Vadra. "Till date, we don't have the Congress chief talking about it nor has the vice-president, who had said he will bring in great reformatory changes in the party," Sitharaman said. 
 
BJP also termed Congress's claim of the Supreme Court giving Vadra a clean chit an "incorrect interpretation". With the two parties sparring over the issue, AAP accused both of "selective shadow-boxing", saying they were driving away the focus of the campaign from real issues. In a statement, the party said it had already highlighted the issue of Vadra's dealings 18 months ago.

Rajasthan Government Will Probe Vadra's Land Deals After LS Polls: BJP

checkout Haryana winner, leading candidate list for state election 2019

NEW DELHI: Lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung may be cornering credit for ending <keyword id="260213" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Arvind-Kejriwal">Arvind Kejriwal</keyword>'s dharna but sections of <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> seem to be unhappy with him for providing what they call an escape route to the Delhi chief minister when he had his back to the wall and the Centre could have twisted the knife. 
 
Congress ranks feel Kejriwal was at his weakest during his latest mass protest, drawing criticism from people and press alike and without compensation in the form of crowds. His outbursts, use of "inelegant" language and making light of the Republic Day celebrations had all been seen as detrimental to his cause. After having been on a roll since he launched his agitation and then a breathtaking electoral debut, the plucky anti-graft crusader suddenly appeared to have boxed himself in with what was seen by many as a petulant protest. 
 However, just when he appeared to have been pinned down, the <keyword id="6356116" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="LG">LG</keyword> threw him a lifeline which a grateful Kejriwal grabbed with both hands, quickly going on to project as a triumph what was at best a face-saver. "We had him by his jugular when we allowed him to slip away. A good opportunity to corner him was lost because the matter was seen as a law and order issue rather than a political problem," said a source in the Congress familiar with the sense of regret in the higher echelons of the party over what they called "political mishandling". 
 On record, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala praised both the LG as well as home minister Sushilkumar Shinde for defusing the standoff with <keyword id="6356115" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="AAP">AAP</keyword> with maturity and tact. 
 
Significantly, a statement issued later by AICC general secretary Ajay Maken contradicted reports that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was unhappy with Shinde. That, however, didn't leave people any wiser about Rahul's views on the LG's handling of the situation. 
 
The nuance was seen as important against the backdrop of speculation that the new Congress boss made no secret of his disappointment when he reviewed the developments of the day with his colleagues late on Tuesday evening. 
 
Sources explained that the LG committed the mistake of seeing the flexibility of AAP, which drastically scaled down its demand, as a breakthrough, losing sight of the opportunity that had suddenly emerged to nail the agitators. 
 
Bereft of crowds and having to play a street protester and chief minister at once, Kejriwal climbed down from demanding handing over Delhi Police to Delhi government and settled for two police persons, one an SHO and another a sub-inspector with PCR, to be sent on leave. 
 
Congress sources said while the LG must have felt happy that he had managed to get the agitators off the road for the cheapest price, he failed to recognize that Kejriwal, given the dire straits he was in, was only too happy to sneak through the escape route. 
 
 
 
Significantly, the compromise formula, sugarcoated as an "appeal" to provide Kejriwal with a cover, came as a surprise even to officials in the home ministry who were dealing with the stalemate. Sources in the ministry said officials as well as Intelligence Bureau director Asif Ibrahim were in favour of stretching the battle of nerves in order to tire out the agitators. They were not fazed by the looming possibility of the dharna entering into Republic Day, and were prepared to hold the event by cordoning off the protest site. 
 
The sense of regret appeared palpable on Wednesday when indications emerged that Kejriwal may like to repair his losses by implementing his plan to fast-track investigations into alleged corruption in Delhi Jal Board and the execution of schemes related to Commonwealth Games 2010. Both decisions can have serious implications for former CM Sheila Dikshit. 
 
Congress sources agreed that the failure of the protest did not reflect a dip in Kejriwal's popularity in the constituencies he poached from Congress, but they drew considerable comfort from AAP's failure to mobilize crowds. AAP leaders had frantically sent SOS messages to people to march to North Block where the home ministry is headquartered, but to little avail. The supporters who propelled the greenhorns to a grand debut refused to march to ground zero even after its leaders screamed at the police for committing brutalities on "peaceful protesters". 
 
This coupled with the fact that Kejriwal was seen as trivializing the sentiments attached to Republic Day suddenly seemed to have enhanced Congress's options versus the plucky rookie. Failure of the agitation would have deterred Kejriwal from hitting the streets yet again, besides denting his image among the groups he weaned away from Congress. "Alas, government failed to seize the moment," said a senior Congress source.

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