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Agusta-Westland case probe: Antony admits govt has not fully succeeded in removing middlemen

New Delhi, Feb 06 (ANI): Even as media reports were in circulation about a former top official of Agusta-Westland telling an Italian court that former Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi was hosted in Milan in 2007, nearly three years before the deal for 12 VVIP helicopters was signed and sealed, Defence Minister AK Antony candidly admitted on Thursday that the government may not have succeeded 100 per cent in removing middlemen from the defence procurement process, but added that the system has been cleaned up to a large extent.

Feb 6, 2014

No compromise on transparency in defence procurement: Antony

New Delhi, Feb 06 (ANI): Defence Minister AK Antony on Thursday while interacting with media in New Delhi after opening DEFEXPO 2014 said that his ministry is determined and firm about ensuring transparency in the defence equipment procurement process, whether it was from indigenous industry or from abroad, and added that there would be no compromise on this score. He further revealed that there are many new procurement proposals in the pipeline.

Feb 6, 2014

Strong action has helped streamline defence procurement system: Antony

New Delhi, Feb 06 (ANI): Defence Minister AK Antony on Thursday while interacting with media in New Delhi after opening DEFEXPO 2014 claimed that the UPA Government's strong action and decisions to curb malpractices and corruption might have created some delay in the defence procurement process, but overall, this has helped to cleanse and streamline the system. Ellaborating further, Antony said that while there might have been setbacks in terms of procurement in one or two areas, action has been taken against some companies whenever there was a controversy linked to them. For instance, he referred to the controversy surrounding the Ordnance Factory Board that occupied media space some years ago. He said that was a blessing in disguise.

Feb 6, 2014

South Asia Newsline - Feb 05, 2014

South Asia Newsline - Feb 05, 2014

Feb 6, 2014

Street light scam is one of the scams in CWG, there are many more: Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi, Feb 6 (ANI): Reacting over the Delhi government's order to Anti Corruption Bureau to file an FIR and start investigation in the street light scam in Commonwealth Games (CWG) purchase, BJP leader Harsh Vardhan said that it is just a symbolic action. He also said that there are many other scams that happened during CWG and are yet to be investigated. He further said a responsible agency should probe the matter.

Feb 6, 2014

Justice for Trayvon Martin: Rapper DMX Vs George Zimmerman Celebrity 'Boxing' Time, Venue - A Close Guarded Secret

Rapper DMX's upcoming charity boxing match with George Zimmerman, the man who killed Trayvon Martin, has been confirmed by celebrity boxing promoter Damon Feldman, who spoke of plans for the match in an interview with news channel, CNN.

Feb 6, 2014

Delhi govt asks LG to form SIT for 1984 riot case, closed files to be reopened

New Delhi, Feb 06 (ANI): After a cabinet meet, AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Thursday said that the Delhi government has asked the Lieutenant Governor to form a SIT to probe into 1984 riots case and also requested that the police in the case will be brought from outside. Sisodia said that all the closed cases and FIRs in the case will be reopened for probe. The probe came after many Sikh leaders and the victims of the riots along with political partied demanded justice in the case.

Feb 6, 2014

Delhi govt wants thorough and independent inquiry in CWG streetlight scam: Manish Sisodia

New Delhi, Feb 06 (ANI): AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Thursday said that the Delhi government wants a thorough and independent inquiry into the CWG streetlight scam, which happened under the governance of Sheila Dikshit government. Sisodia questioned on the purchase of the streetlights way above its original price. He said that the investigation is not on a particular person, but an independent one.

Feb 6, 2014

Sikh politicos call Operation Bluestar planned conspiracy by Indira Gandhi

New Delhi, Feb 06 (ANI): After UK alleged that it advised India on 1984 Operation Bluestar, Sikh politicos demanded answer from the Congress government and termed it as a planned conspiracy by Indira Gandhi. SAD leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the whole operation on attacking the golden temple was a conspiracy by Gandhi. Meanwhile, DSGMC President Manjit Singh GK said that everything that happened then was planned in advance and it was a conspiracy planned for vote bank as elections were approaching in the country.

Feb 6, 2014

Politicos choose to wait for more information in Britains involvement in operation Bluestar

New Delhi, Feb 06 (ANI): After British Prime Minister David Cameron said that there is no evidence of UK’s involvement in 1984 Operation Bluestar, India’s Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said that there is no indication on the same and that Gen. Kuldeep Singh Brar who commanded the operation has also said that the operation was fully planned by Army. Meanwhile, BJD leader Jay Panda said that there is still not much information on the issue and that people should wait for the same.

Feb 6, 2014

Delhi government to file FIR against Sheila Dikshit in CWG scam

New Delhi, Feb 06 (ANI): The Delhi government on Thursday ordered Anti Corruption bureau to file an FIR and start investigation in a scam in Commonwealth Games (CWG) purchase. At the time of CWG games, the PWD department had installed fancy lamp posts at a very high rate by ignoring the contract procedure. Due to this, the government had incurred an approximate loss of Rs.92 crore. Although the complaint did not name former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit but her name is likely to be included in the final FIR to be registered by ACB since she approved the project.

Feb 6, 2014

BJP, Shiv Sena denounce Aseemanand's revelation on RSS chief

New Delhi, Feb 06 (ANI): BJP and Shiv Sena on Thursday denounced the allegations of Aseemanand, accused of Samjhauta Express, Hyderabad Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Dargah blasts case that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had sanctioned the strikes. The revelations have been made by a magazine. Talking to mediapersons, BJP leader Prakash Javadekar questioned the authenticity of Aseemanand's interview to the magazine. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that statements are twisted and presented to defame Hindutva organizations.

Feb 6, 2014

Politicos attack RSS over Aseemanands statement about 3 major 2007 blasts

New Delhi, Feb 6 (ANI): Leaders of the Congress, JD (U) and Samajwadi Party attacked the RSS after Swami Aseemanand, accused of Samjhauta Express, Hyderabad Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Dargah blasts cases, reportedly said that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had sanctioned the strikes.

Feb 6, 2014

RSS rubbishes Mohan Bhagwat's link with 3 major 2007 blasts

Nagpur, Jan 6 (ANI): RSS leader MG Vaidya Thursday denied reports of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's involvement in sanctioning the blasts in the Samjhauta Express, Hyderabad Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Dargah. According to a magazine, accused of the three blasts, Swami Aseemanand, has alleged that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had sanctioned the strikes.

Feb 6, 2014

Reservation row: Congress a confused party, says BJP

New Delhi, Feb 06 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday took a dig at the Congress for its stand on reservation along caste lines. Congress leader Janardan Dwivedi kicked a row when he called for an end to reservation along caste lines. He was snubbed later by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who said the empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Tribes and Backward Classes has been an article of faith with the Congress. Commenting on Dwivedi's statement, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar on Thursday described Congress as the confused party which is in continuous and perpetual dilemma.

Feb 6, 2014