The Supreme Court on Friday said there was no reason to doubt the Centre’s procurement process for the Rafale jet deal with France. A three-judge bench dismissed all petitions seeking an inquiry into the deal.
Meanwhile, the Congress announced that Ashok Gehlot will be the chief minister of Rajasthan and Sachin Pilot will be his deputy. The two leaders were the front-runners for the position of chief minister.
Rafale: CAG report cited by Supreme Court in judgement does not exist, says Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday questioned the basis of the Supreme Court judgement on the Rafale fighter jet deal, alleging that a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India mentioned in the judgement does not exist.
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Omission of Kulbhushan Jadhav from interview with Pakistan minister not ‘an act of censorship’: BBC
British broadcaster BBC on Thursday denied reports that it had omitted the name of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav from its interview with Pakistan’s Finance Minister Asad Umar due to any biases.
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SC dismisses curative petition against Rakesh Asthana’s appointment as CBI special director
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a curative petition filed by non-governmental organisation Common Cause challenging the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as the special director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, PTI reported.
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Jammu and Kashmir: At least seven killed after vehicle falls into gorge in Reasi
Seven people, including three children, were killed on Friday after the vehicle they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi, Greater Kashmir reported.
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Rafale: Claims against deal were fiction, says Arun Jaitley, criticises Rahul Gandhi for ‘falsehood’
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday termed the allegations levelled against the Centre in connection with the Rafale defence deal as “fiction writing”.
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Novelist Amitav Ghosh wins Jnanpith Award 2018
Novelist Amitav Ghosh will receive with the Jnanpith Award, the country’s highest literary honour, PTI reported.
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Delhi High Court lifts Centre’s restrictions on manufacture and sale of oxytocin by private firms
The Delhi High Court on Friday set aside the Centre’s decision to ban the production and sale of oxytocin by private companies. A bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and AK Chawla called the decision arbitrary and unreasonable and said it was without scientific basis, PTI reported.
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Ashok Gehlot named chief minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot to be his deputy
Congress leader Ashok Gehlot will be the next chief minister of Rajasthan, and Sachin Pilot will be his deputy, the party announced on Friday. The two leaders were the front-runners for the position of chief minister.
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Demonetisation: Centre says it has not studied or assessed economic impact of the decision
The Centre on Friday told the Lok Sabha that it has not studied or assessed the impact that demonetisation had on the economy. Minister of State for Finance P Radhakrishnan said this in response to a question asked in the House on the “after-effects” of demonetisation.
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Tamil Nadu: Dhinakaran loyalist leaves his party, joins DMK
One of the 18 Tamil Nadu MLAs who were disqualified last year for siding with rebel All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran has now left his party. V Senthil Balaji joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Friday. The DMK is in the Opposition in the state.
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Rafale verdict: Amit Shah lashes out at Rahul Gandhi, calls SC ruling ‘slap on politics of lies’
Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Friday said the Supreme Court verdict dismissing the need for an inquiry into the Rafale deal was a “slap on the face of those who indulge in politics of lies”. He said his party was ready to have a facts-based discussion on the matter in Parliament for as long as the Congress wants, and that adjourning the House was not a solution.
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Wholesale price inflation falls to 4.64% in November
Wholesale price inflation fell to 4.64% for November from 5.28% in October, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement on Friday. The rate of inflation was 4.02% for the corresponding month last year.
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Rafale verdict: Anil Ambani says Supreme Court ruling shows allegations were wild and baseless
Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court judgement refusing an inquiry into India’s Rafale jet deal with French company Dassault Aviation. Ambani reiterated that the allegations against him and his company in connection with the deal were “wild, baseless and politically motivated”, and said the court had “conclusively established” this.
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Sabarimala row: Activist Rehana Fathima, arrested for hurting religious sentiments, granted bail
The Kerala High Court on Friday granted conditional bail to activist Rehana Fathima who was arrested last month for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a Facebook post. Justice Sunil Thomas granted bail on the conditions that Fathima does not enter Pamba police station limits and does not post statements on social media that hurt religious sentiments.
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KCR’s son KT Rama Rao appointed working president of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday appointed his son KT Rama Rao the working president of his party, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Rama Rao had won the Assembly election held last week in the Sircilla constituency of the state by over 89,000 votes.
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Parliament: Both Houses adjourned for the day after chaos over Rafale deal
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Friday as legislators sparred over the Rafale deal. On the other hand, the Lok Sabha too was adjourned till Monday. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh alleged that Gandhi had tried to mislead public for political benefit and had maligned the image of India globally.
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Supreme Court asks Centre to make appointment of information commissioners more transparent
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to disclose the process of appointment of the members of the Central Information Commission, including details on applicants and search committees. The court asked the government to maintain transparency in the process.
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West Bengal: Trinamool leader, two others killed in attack on MLA’s car near Kolkata
At least three people were killed after assailants fired and threw bombs at their car at a petrol pump near Kolkata on Thursday. The dead included local Trinamool Congress leader Saifuddin Khan, the driver of the vehicle belonging to party MLA Biswanath Das, and a passerby.
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‘CID’ director BP Singh appointed new FTII chairman after Anupam Kher
Television producer-director BP Singh was on Thursday appointed the new chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India. He will succeed senior actor Anupam Kher, who had resigned from the post in October before his term came to an end.
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Rafale: Supreme Court rules out CBI inquiry into deal, says it is satisfied with process followed
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed all petitions seeking an inquiry into the government’s procurement of Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault Aviation. Perceptions of individuals cannot form the basis of judicial interference, the court said.
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CM-designate Kamal Nath to meet Madhya Pradesh governor on Friday morning
Madhya Pradesh chief minister-designate Kamal Nath has said that the post of chief minister is a milestone and thanked Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia for his support. Nath said he will meet Governor Anandiben Patel at 10.30 am on Friday.
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Nitin Gadkari says it’s wrong to call Vijay Mallya a thief for defaulting on loan once
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said it would be unfair to describe businessman Vijay Mallya as a thief because he had regularly made loan payments for close to four decades and had only defaulted on payment once.
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PM Modi’s foreign trips have cost taxpayers over Rs 2,000 crore since 2014
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trips abroad since 2014 have cost tax payers over Rs 2,000 crore. Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh on Thursday gave the Rajya Sabha the details of Modi’s trips between June 15, 2014 and December 3, 2018.
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Bengaluru: Sasikala questioned in prison by tax department officials
VK Sasikala, former general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, was on Thursday interrogated by Income Tax Department officials in connection with searches held at former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s home. Sasikala was Jayalalithaa’s former aide.
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