Month: August 2014

Kyoto/Tokyo, Aug 31 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Tokyo Sunday evening after a busy day in the former Japanese capital Kyoto where he visited two ancient Buddhist temples and sought Japan’s help to combat sickle cell disease prevalent in tribal regions of India. On the first full day of his five-day trip to Japan aimed at boosting economic and security ties, Modi also exchanged notes on heritage conservation with Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, showing him a detailed map of Varanasi, the Hindu holy city he represents in the Lok Sabha. Modi, who arrived in Kyoto Saturday and was received by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, began Sunday by visiting the Toji and Kinkaku-ji temples. Dressed in a white kurta pyjama and bandhgala, Modi first went to the Toji temple with Abe, who flew down to Kyoto specially to receive the Indian leader.

New Delhi, Aug. 31 (ANI): In wake of the ongoing anti-government protests in Islamabad, senior Congress leader and former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday hoped that there is peace and democracy remains in force in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy feared that Pakistan could emerge as a strong theocratic state. I think Pakistan will emerge as a strong theocratic state-it is already an Islamic state. Former diplomat Naresh Chandra on his part said that the crisis would considerably weaken the Pakistani government.

New Delhi, Aug 31 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader MJ Akbar on Sunday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan as ‘transformational’ that will result in substantial flow of investments from that country. “This is a transformational visit. “We will see substantial Japanese investments and involvement in Narendra Modi’s major projects on improving the economy of the nation. Japan is going to be a very major partner in road towards India’s future,” he added Prime Minister Modi, accompanied by a high-level delegation, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, is currently on a five-day visit to Japan.

New Delhi, Aug.31 (ANI): With the GDP growth rate in the April-June quarter of 2014-15 improving to 5.7 percent, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nalin Kohli on Sunday said that there is good news ahead for the country, economy and the people of India. Commenting on the GDP growth rate, which grew at 5.7 percent in the first quarter as compared to 4.7 percent in the corresponding quarter last year, Kohli said “There is good news ahead for the country, for the economy and for the people of India.” “The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley clearly informed the nation yesterday that the economy is moving on a path of recovery within first 100 days of the Modi government,” he added.

Shimla, Aug 31 (IANS) The tiny hill state of Himachal Pradesh is facing one of its worst financial crises. Official sources told IANS that the chief minister met the new central leadership a number of times in the past three months and lobbied hard for a special financial package from the central government to overcome a whopping debt of Rs.30,000 crore. Tourism, horticulture and hydropower generation are major contributors to Himachal Pradesh’s economic development. Blaming the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for the fiscal mess, Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma said the state has generally been following the pay structure adopted by the Punjab government based on the recommendations of the Punjab Pay Commission.

New Delhi, Aug. 31 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Meenakshi Lekhi said today that India’s GDP figures reaching its highest figure of 5.7 percent in the first quarter of the financial year 2014-15, reflected the NDA government’s focus on laying a strong foundation for the Indian economy. Explaining how the foundation had been laid, Lekhi told ANI, “Because of focussing on the main issue of rising inflation, increasing the rates of manufacturing and increment in agricultural production, the kind of changes you are seeing is there. The kind of base foundation that needs to be laid with deep efforts has been put by the Union budget, Delhi Budget and the Railway Budget.

New Delhi, Aug 31 (ANI): Congress leader Rashid Alvi today criticized the government for increasing the price of diesel and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used to protest against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) when fuel prices were hiked during their regime. “The government is continuously increasing diesel prices, the common man needs diesel. If price of diesel rose during the UPA regime, BJP people were out on the streets protesting.

Kyoto, Aug 31 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited two leading Buddhist temples here Sunday and sought Japan’s help on combating sickle cell disease prevalent in tribal regions of India. Modi, who arrived here Saturday on a five-day visit of Japan, later met Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, who briefed him about the city that was the capital of imperial Japan. Modi began his first full day in Japan by visiting the Toji and Kinkaku-ji temples.