prime minister manmohan singh | CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon

10/04/2013

* Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Mourns U.N. Peacekeepers Killed in South Sudan

WSJ: “Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paid tribute to the five “brave soldiers” who died Tuesday morning in the deadliest attack on the United Nations in South Sudan since the country’s secession in July 2011.

The five Indian soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, were part of a group escorting a convoy of U.N. civilian staff and contractors. They came under attack near the settlement of Gumuruk in Jonglei state, South Sudan. Around 200 armed men attacked the convoy. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, in which two U.N. staff and five civilian contractors were also killed.

The dead Indian troops have been named as Lieutenant Colonel Mahipal Singh, Shiv Kumar Pal, Hira Lal, Bharat Singh and Nand Kishore.

Nine others, including four Indian soldiers, were injured in the attack, according to reports.

via Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Mourns U.N. Peacekeepers Killed in South Sudan – India Real Time – WSJ.

Posted in GeoPolitics, India alert, Military, non-military intervention, peace keeping, Politics | Leave a Comment »

Tags: India, indian army, indian prime minister manmohan singh, manmohan singh, politics, prime minister manmohan singh, South Sudan, Sudan, United Nations, United Nations peacekeeping

05/04/2013

* Economic development must be environmentally sustainable, says Manmohan

The Hindu: “Warning that environmental degradation could have serious consequences, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday emphasised that economic growth should be based on optimal use of natural resources and development must be environmentally sustainable.

Globally, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, environmental degradation is manifesting itself through the loss of fertile soils, desertification, decreasing forest cover, reduction of fresh water availability, and an extreme loss of bio-diversity. File Photo

Often, he regretted, “economic policies designed to promote growth have been implemented without considering their full environmental consequences, presumably on the assumption that these consequences would either take care of themselves or could be dealt with separately.”

Mr. Singh said this while inaugurating the International Workshop on Green National Accounting for India in New Delhi.

He said India’s commitment to planned economic development reflects the government’s determination to improve the economic conditions of people and an affirmation of the role of the government in bringing about this outcome through a variety of social, economic, and institutional initiatives.

“But as the economy develops the capacity to grow rapidly, it gives rise to many new challenges. For instance, natural resources are limited, and final.

“And one needs to decide how to use these scarce resources optimally, both from the economic development and the sustainability perspectives,” Mr. Singh said.

The Prime Minister said there is evidence to suggest that such policies may actually result in a net decrease in human well-being.

Globally, he said, environmental degradation is manifesting itself through the loss of fertile soils, desertification, decreasing forest cover, reduction of fresh water availability, and an extreme loss of bio-diversity.

“These are serious consequences, and it has become clear today that economic development must be environmentally sustainable,” he added.

Mr. Singh said through planned economic development, India aims to attain economic growth and poverty alleviation, and doing so in a sustainable manner.”

via Economic development must be environmentally sustainable, says Manmohan – The Hindu.

The past & present of Indian environmentalism (thehindu.com)
Sustainable Development: Only a Buzzword? (thehindu.com)

Posted in Economics, Environment, India alert | Leave a Comment »

Tags: climate, environment, manmohan singh, poverty alleviation, prime minister manmohan singh

24/02/2013

* I am here to share your pain, PM tells Hyderabad blast victims

Times of India: “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday visited the Thursday’s blast sites and hospitals where the injured are being treated to express “solidarity” with the people of the city and appealed for peace and calm.

[image]

He lauded the people of the city for refusing to be provoked by the “nefarious” act.

Singh visited the twin blast sites and Omni and Yashoda hospitals where he met some of the injured and their families, assuring them of all help.

“I have come to share the grief of people of Hyderabad. I express condolence for the families of the bereaved and wish speedy recovery for the injured,” Singh said after meeting the blast victims at the hospitals.

He also said the state government has assured all medical help for them.

“The state government has assured all help will be given for treatment,” Singh, who flew in here from Delhi by a special IAF plane, said.

Making an appeal for peace, he said, “I call upon the people to maintain calm in this hour of grief. I am happy that people of Hyderabad have refused to be provoked by this nefarious incident.”

Singh had on Saturday strongly condemned the blasts, saying those responsible for the “dastardly” act would not go unpunished.”

via I am here to share your pain, PM tells Hyderabad blast victims – The Times of India.

See also: https://chindia-alert.org/political-factors/indian-tensions/

Posted in Ethnic clash, India alert, Politics | Leave a Comment »

Tags: dastardly act, Delhi, Hyderabad, Hyderabad India, India, india prime minister, manmohan singh, Prime minister, prime minister manmohan singh, Singh

10/12/2012

* Uproar in Rajya Sabha over Wal-Mart lobbying disclosure; opposition seeks probe

Retail entry into India; two steps forward, one step back?

Times of India: “The issue of FDI in retail came to haunt the government again in Parliament with a united opposition demanding an inquiry and reply from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on reports of Wal-Mart spending huge money to lobby for entry into the Indian market.

Forcing two adjournments in the Rajya Sabha before lunch, members from BJP, CPM, CPI, SP, JD-U, Trinamool Congress, AGP and AIADMK said the measure should be withdrawn as “corruption” has come to fore now because lobbying is illegal in India.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Ravishankar Prasad (BJP) said apprehensions were raised earlier also about Wal-Mart spending huge money to lobby for entering the Indian market, which has now been proved true.

“Wal-Mart has in its lobbying disclosure report to the US Senate said it has spent Rs 125 crore on lobbying and $ 3 million have been spent in 2012 itself for entering the Indian market.

“Lobbying is illegal in India. Lobbying is a kind of bribe. If Wal-Mart has said that hundreds of crores of rupees were spent in India, then it is a kind of bribe. Government should tell who was given this bribe. This raises a question mark on the implementation of FDI in retail,” Prasad said.

He was supported by members from other opposition parties with TMC leader D Bandopadhyay waving a newspaper report and CPM member P Rajeeve asking for an “independent inquiry” into the whole episode alleging that there are some reports saying Wal-Mart invested money even before FEMA was amended.

“This is bribery,” he said as the opposition members shouted slogans in favour of withdrawing FDI.

The opposition was reacting to media report that global retail giant Wal-Mart — waiting for years to open its supermarkets in India — had been lobbying with the US lawmakers since 2008 to facilitate its entry into the highly lucrative Indian market.

via Uproar in Rajya Sabha over Wal-Mart lobbying disclosure; opposition seeks probe – The Times of India.

FDI debate in Rajya Sabha: Who said what (vancouverdesi.com)
Government wins vote on FDI in retail in Rajya Sabha (ndtv.com)

Posted in Economics, FDI, India alert | 1 Comment »

Tags: FDI, Foreign direct investment, India, manmohan singh, politics, prime minister manmohan singh, Rajya Sabha, Wal-Mart, Walmart

07/11/2012

* India and Canada finalise conditions of nuclear deal

BBC: “India and Canada have finalised the terms for their nuclear deal, paving the way for Canadian firms to export uranium to India.

Electricity cable in India

Once implemented, the deal is likely to provide a boost to India’s plans to increase its nuclear capacity to meet growing energy demands.

The deal was agreed in 2010, but there had been differences over supervision of the use of uranium in India.

Canada has banned the trade of nuclear materials with India since 1976.

“Canada with its large and high quality reserves of uranium could become an important supplier to the Indian nuclear power programme,” India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper said in a joint statement.

‘Important economic opportunity’

India’s economy has seen rapid expansion in recent years resulting in a surge in demand for energy in the country.

In a bid to meet its growing energy needs, India has been looking to increase its dependence on nuclear energy.

It is planning to set up some 30 reactors over as many years and get a quarter of its electricity from nuclear energy by 2050.

As a result it has been looking to secure supplies of uranium to achieve that target.

Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that being able to be a part of India’s nuclear power plans was “a really important economic opportunity for an important Canadian industry… that should pay dividends in terms of jobs and growth for Canadians down the road”.

Earlier this month, India agreed to begin negotiations on a civil nuclear co-operation agreement with Australia, which holds an estimated 40% of the world’s uranium.

Last year, it agreed a deal that will allow South Korea to export its nuclear energy technology to India.”

via BBC News – India and Canada finalise conditions of nuclear deal.

Tags: canada, India, manmohan singh, nuclear energy technology, Nuclear power, prime minister manmohan singh, South Korea, Stephen Harper, Uranium

28/10/2012

* Manmohan expands cabinet with new faces

New brooms sweep clean. Will this new government be any less prone to corruption than previous governments?

The Hindu: “Seven Cabinet ministers, including new faces such as K. Rehman Khan and Chandresh Kumari, and 15 Ministers of State were sworn—in on Sunday as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expanded his Council of Ministers.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with newly sworn-in ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Sunday. Photo: S. Subramanium

Five Ministers of State —— Dinsha Patel, M.M. Pallam Raju, Harish Rawat, Ajay Maken and Ashwani Kumar —— were promoted to Cabinet rank.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari and actor—turned—politician Chiranjeevi were brought in as Ministers of State with independent charge, while Shashi Tharoor made a comeback as Minister of State after over two years.

12 new Ministers of State were sworn—in. They are Tariq Anwar (Maharashtra), K Suresh (Kerala), A H Khan Chowdhry, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhry and Deepa Dasmunshi, (West Bengal), S Satyanarayana, K Jayasuyraprakash Reddy, P Balram Naik, and Killi Kriparani (Andhra Pradesh).

Lalchand Kataria (Rajasthan), Ranee Narah (Assam) and Ninong Ering (Arunachal Pradesh) are the others who were sworn—in as MoS.”

via The Hindu : News / National : Manmohan expands cabinet with new faces.

Posted in India alert, Leadership change, Politics | Leave a Comment »

Tags: manmohan singh, Minister of State, politics, prime minister manmohan singh

19/10/2012

* Rahul Gandhi can change Congress’ image with cabinet entry

Will Rahul Gandhi step up to his heritage and take the reins or forever stand in the sidelines? And if he does, will it make a difference to India or will she continue as she is?

Reuters: “India is asking the same old question after news reports said Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday before a possible cabinet reshuffle later this month: will Gandhi be one of the cards in his deck?

Gandhi’s entry into the government would be the only opportunity for him to prove that he has what it takes to one day rule India. He’s seen as the prime-minister-in-waiting, and a cabinet post would better equip him to deal with the hurly-burly of Indian politics.

Several cabinet posts are vacant, and some cabinet ministers hold additional portfolios. And even after passing market-moving reform measures, Congress’ task of boosting its public image is incomplete.

If you go by age, Gandhi is 42, just about ripe. David Cameron became the youngest prime minister of Britain at 44. When Barack Obama took over as the 44th American president, he was 47. Gandhi’s grandmother and India’s first woman to serve as prime minister, Indira Gandhi, was appointed Congress president when she was in her early 40′s.

But Rahul has never expressed willingness to join the government or lead the Congress party. He wants to work with the people. The Uttar Pradesh poll disaster, in which the Congress party suffered a major setback, perhaps makes it more attractive for him to take the humble approach.

Gandhi’s biggest problem is communication, which is also true of his mother, Congress President Sonia Gandhi. How can you be in politics and not talk? It is tough to imagine India’s top leaders sharing a stage for debate, speaking to each other in a civilised manner, or worse yet, barely at all and without any melodrama.

If Rahul wants to be a mass leader and win hearts, he should reach out to people. In this day and age, communication is a Twitter account or a camera link away. There’s a lot to talk about that doesn’t involve implying that 70 percent of Punjab’s youth are junkies … from corruption to social activism to the state of the economy and ways to fix it.”

via Rahul Gandhi can change Congress’ image with cabinet entry | India Insight.

Posted in India alert, Leadership change, Politics | 3 Comments »

Tags: congress president sonia gandhi, Indira Gandhi, politics, prime minister manmohan singh

14/09/2012

* India opens retail to global supermarkets

BBC News: “India’s government has once again cleared a controversial plan to open up its lucrative retail sector to global supermarket chains.

Last year, the government suspended a similar plan after fierce opposition from its allies and political rivals.

International firms such as Walmart and Tesco will now be able to buy up to a 51% stake in multi-brand retailers.

Analysts say the government has reintroduced the measure in an effort to revive a flagging economy.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is reported to have told cabinet colleagues that “the time for big bang reform has come; we have to go down fighting”.

Strong opposition

The decision was one of several key reforms announced by the government. It also approved a plan to allow foreign airlines to buy 49% stakes in local carriers, in the hope that this will boost the country’s troubled aviation sector.

The decision to open up India’s lucrative retail sector to international supermarket chains has come as a major surprise. It was among a slew of key economic reforms announced by the government and is seen as vital to reviving the country’s slowing economy.

For months the decision has been held up by political gridlock, especially because it was opposed by the government’s own allies. But it now appears the government has decided to bite the bullet, especially as its own credibility – and that of Manmohan Singh – is at an all-time low following a series of financial scandals.

Much will now depend on Mr Singh’s ability to keep his disparate coalition together, as opposition to these measures is expected to be fierce.

Many will see this as a final throw of the dice, not just to revive the economy and boost confidence among investors but also ahead of the national elections due in 2014.

It also follows Thursday’s dramatic 14% rise in the price of diesel, which is heavily subsidised in India.

The government was forced to back down on retail reform after the cabinet first undertook to open up the retail sector last November.

The move had been strongly opposed by tens of thousands of small businesses and cornershops who fear they will be put out of business.

But this latest move has already been welcomed by economists who say it will transform the way Indians shop and will boost the economy.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communists labelled it a “betrayal of democracy”.

via BBC News – India opens retail to global supermarkets.

Opposition to block FDI in multi-brand retail (thehindu.com)
With Wal-Mart Locked Out, India’s Billionaires Rush In – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
We are not against FDI in multi-brand retail: Akhilesh Yadav (profit.ndtv.com)
Singh Push to Revive Wal-Mart Entry Plan Hit by Fresh Opposition – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)

Posted in Economics, India alert | 3 Comments »

Tags: Bharatiya Janata, India, manmohan singh, politics, prime minister manmohan singh, retail, Supermarket, Tesco, Walmart

07/09/2012

* India parliament ends in deadlock

BBC News: “The latest session of India’s parliament has ended without resolving deadlock which paralysed it for days.

The Gevra coal mine in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh

The impasse was caused by an uproar over alleged corruption in the allocation of coalfield concessions.

The opposition BJP wants the government to cancel the awards and hold an independent probe.

Earlier this week, police raided companies which allegedly misrepresented facts prior to being awarded coalfield concessions.

State auditors say India lost $33bn (£20bn) awarding coalfields at below market rates in the years up to 2009.

The auditors’ report does not mention Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but BJP leaders say he must step down because he had direct responsibility for the coal ministry when most of the awards were made.

Mr Singh denies any wrongdoing and has refused to resign.

Parliament was deadlocked for 13 of the 20 days of the monsoon session which concluded on Friday without much business being done.

Some 30 bills were due to be considered and passed during the session, but very little legislative work was done.

“This session is likely to be remembered for the work that was not done,” the chairman of the upper house, Hamid Ansari, said.”

via BBC News – India parliament ends in deadlock.

* India coal scandal: Hundreds protest against PM Singh (chindia-alert.org)
India opposition threatens to block parliament (chinapost.com.tw)
Parliament of India, Delhi (cybertravelinc.wordpress.com)

Posted in India alert, Politics | 1 Comment »

Tags: Bharatiya Janata, BJP, Government, India, List of coalfields, manmohan singh, Parliament of India, politics, prime minister manmohan singh

29/03/2012

* BRICS flexing muscle – to set up joint bank, call for dialogue on Iran & Syria

Times of India: “Seeking to reinforce their growing economic heft with diplomatic clout, the BRICS grouping Thursday pitched for a bigger say in global governance institutions, including the UN and the IMF, and told the West that dialogue was the only way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and the Syria crisis.

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which comprise nearly half the world’s population and a growing share of global GDP, signed two pacts to spur trade in their local currencies. They also agreed to set up a working group for a joint development bank to promote mutual investment in infrastructure.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India and Presidents Hu Jintao China, Dmitry Medvedev Russia, Dilma Rousseff Brazil and Jacob Zuma South Africa ended the fourth BRICS summit by renewing the pitch for reforming global governance institutions and closer coordination on global issues.The five leaders stressed on the restructuring of the world order to accommodate emerging economies and developing countries and for promoting sustained and balanced global economic growth.”

via BRICS to set up joint bank, call for dialogue on Iran & Syria – The Times of India.

BRICS agree to local currency credits to ease dollar dependency (alethonews.wordpress.com)
Medvedev says BRICS opposes any intervention in Syria (laaska.wordpress.com)
BRICS summit in India to focus on boosting trade (seattlepi.com)

Posted in China alert, Economics, GeoPolitics, India alert, Reform | 6 Comments »

Tags: BRIC, Chindia, Chindiapedia, Dmitry Medvedev, governance institutions, Hu Jintao, India, jacob zuma, manmohan singh, prime minister manmohan singh, South Africa, Syria

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Posts tagged ‘prime minister manmohan singh’

* Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Mourns U.N. Peacekeepers Killed in South Sudan

* Economic development must be environmentally sustainable, says Manmohan

* I am here to share your pain, PM tells Hyderabad blast victims

* Uproar in Rajya Sabha over Wal-Mart lobbying disclosure; opposition seeks probe

* India and Canada finalise conditions of nuclear deal

* Manmohan expands cabinet with new faces

* Rahul Gandhi can change Congress’ image with cabinet entry

* India opens retail to global supermarkets

* BRICS flexing muscle – to set up joint bank, call for dialogue on Iran & Syria

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