NEWS

New Delhi: Responding to Iran’s invitation to China and Pakistan to participate in development of the Chabahar port, India has said it was the prerogative of the Iranian government to choose its partners for the project.

Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif, during a three-day visit to Islamabad, invited Pakistan and China to participate in the strategic Chabahar Port project, saying it is not aimed at "strangulating" or "encircling" anybody.

"It is the prerogative of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to choose its partners for the development of infrastructure facilities there," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said during a media briefing.

New Delhi: VHP leader Pravin Togadia claimed that the Modi government had neither kept its promises on Hindutva nor on development.

In a letter to Narendra Modi, Togadia sought an appointment with the Prime Minister to discuss the fulfillment of the promises, specially the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the adoption of a uniform civil code.

"Winning elections is a game of percentages, voter lists and EVMs. But fulfilling the promises makes the leader a 'Praja Lakshi' (people focused) leader," Togadia wrote in the letter.

New Delhi: RBI Governor Urjit Patel has sought more powers to deal with frauds at public sector banks (PSBs) such as PNB scam. Speaking at Gujarat National Law University Gandhinagar yesterday, he said RBI's power over public sector banks are weaker than the private sector banks. 

Referring to the very limited authority of the central bank, Dr Patel said the RBI cannot remove PSB directors and management, it cannot enforce mergers in PSBs nor it can trigger liquidation of state-owned banks. 

New Delhi:  Shiv Sena has severely criticised BJP MP Poonam Mahajan who blamed "urban Maoists" for recent stir by farmers in Maharashtra by asking if Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis could be dubbed a "Maoism supporter" by the same logic as he has accepted the demands of the protesters.

"The Chief Minister held a meeting with the protesters and agreed to accept their demands. Does this mean that he supports Maoism and thereby has committed a sin?" the Sena questioned in an editorial published in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Mahajan, the MP from Mumbai North Central, stirred a controversy when she said that farmers were being misled by some "urban Maoists".