India's values make us closer; shouldn't threaten China: Obama

Washington, Feb 2 (IANS) President Barack Obama has said that there are undoubtedly "aspects of India" that make US closer to India but China doesn't need to be "threatened" because Washington has good relations with New Delhi.



 "There's no doubt that there are aspects of India that make us closer to India," he had told noted Indian-American journalist Fareed Zakaria in an interview in New Delhi at the conclusion of his three-day historic  visit.

 "Specifically it's a democracy, and reflects the values and aspirations as well as some of the warts of our own country, in a way that China could not," he said in the interview telecast Sunday on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS. "And so I think there's an affinity there that I feel personally and I  think the American people feel as well."

 Asked what he was most proud of, Obama said internationally, he was "proud of the fact that we've responsibly ended two wars" - in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 "And I think that what we have also done is reflected the best values of America," he said, citing among others "strengthening alliances with countries like India, where there's just enormous potential, and sometimes we don't pay a lot of attention to it".

 "But I've been paying a lot of attention to it, because I think that our future prosperity and security is going to be tied up with how we're doing with 1.2 billion aspiring Indians who share our values and share democracy with us," Obama said.

 Turning to China, Obama said he was surprised at Beijing's criticism of both the US and India since he had "visited China just a while back and had some very successful meetings with President Xi (Jinping)".

 "China doesn't need to be threatened because we have good relations with India," he said.

 "You know, my belief is that in this moment in history, there is an opportunity to create a win-win formula in which all countries are abiding by a common set of rules and standards."

 The US, he said, was "focused on lifting up prosperity for our people, not at the expense of others, but together with each other, and that's what my discussions with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi have focused on".

 Obama said he had "continually emphasized that it is very much in America's interest to see China continue with its peaceful rise".

 "What's dangerous for us is a destabilized and impoverished and disintegrating China. It's much better for us if China is doing well," he said.

 But "China's growth shouldn't be at the expense of other folks".

Fresh snowfall shuts Srinagar-Jammu highway

Srinagar, Feb 2 (IANS) Fresh snowfall Monday closed the strategic Srinagar-Jammu highway as the weather office forecast heavy snowfall during the next 24 hours.


 "The Srinagar-Jammu highway has been closed because of more than three-feet deep snow on the highway in Bannihal and Batote sectors."

 "Clearance operations will start after the snowfall stops," a senior official of the traffic department told IANS here.

 Continuing snowfall also resulted in poor visibility, and air traffic to and from the Kashmir valley was disrupted today (Monday).

 The local weather office has forecast moderate snowfall in the plains and heavy in the higher reaches of Kashmir.

 Snowfall has brought relief to the people as an extended dry spell in January caused apprehensions among farmers, orchardists and the common man.

 All the perennial water reservoirs of the state are replenished by snowfall during the winter months and the former in turn sustain the rivers and streams during the summer months.

Delhi beat Mumbai for first win in 2015 HIL

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Defending champions Delhi Waveriders finally opened their account by notching their first win of the 2015 Hockey India League when they defeated Dabang Mumbai at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here Sunday.


 Both teams had two draws and a loss in their previous three matches and were eager to get their first win and five full points. The Waveriders came out winners, beating the visiting team 3-1.

 Waveriders got the first penalty corner of the match just seven minutes into the game but were unlucky to capitalise on the opportunity. The breakthrough finally came in the 10th minute when man-of-the-match Lloyd Norris Jones got a clean long pass at the opponentís D and made no mistake in ensuring he hit it cleanly past the Mumbai goalie.

 With the Waveriders leading 1-0 in the first quarter, the intent was clear for Mumbai in the second. However, the hosts were awarded with a penalty corner in the 19th minute and Rupinder Pal Singh ensured the ball found the net to extend the lead 2-0.

 Immediately into the third quarter, Mumbai won a penalty corner and an opportunity to close the gap but a brilliant stop by Timmothy Drummond denied Mumbai a goal. This did not deter the visiting team as they continued their attack.

 In the 36th minute, Arjun Hallapa, standing at the D, got a pass and he struck past the goalkeeper to give his team the much required goal.

 In the 52nd minute, seamless passes by the Waveriders helped Akashdeep Singh to score, taking the score to 3-1. Despite a few efforts from the Mumbai team, they were unable to score with the match ending in the favour of the defending champions.

 ìWe played to our best capabilities and ensured less mistakes. The focus was on good hockey and not to repeat the mistakes of our last match. So far the boys have played good hockey but because of the mistakes in the past matches we lost the opportunity to finish the games in our favour. The aim from here will be to make winning a habit and this win should further enhance our game in the league,î Waveriders head coach Cedric D'Souza said.

Set up SIT for Sikh 'genocide', Badal asks Modi (Lea

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Sunday sought the personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe all cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.


 In a letter to Modi, Badal said the "genocide" of Sikhs was a "pre-planned" incident at the behest of Congress leaders.

 Badal urged the central government to take an immediate call on the recommendations of the Justice (retd) G.P. Mathur panel, constituted by the Centre in December last year, to re-investigate several cases related to anti-Sikh violence that broke out in November 1984 after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi.

 The chief minister said the Shiromani Akali Dal has been struggling to get justice for the victims of the 1984 riots in Delhi and other parts of the country.

 He said that on the Akali Dal's demand, the Justice Mathur panel was constituted in December 2014, by the central government to examine the possibility of setting up of an SIT for re-investigating the 1984 'genocide'.

 Badal said the panel had, in its 45-page report, suggested setting up of an SIT.

 Demanding re-investigation of many cases where crucial evidence was overlooked and cases were closed by Delhi Police even without sending them to courts, Badal said all such cases needed to be re-opened.

 Accusing the previous Congress-led government at the Centre and in Delhi of pushing the anti-Sikh riots cases under the carpet, Badal said the recommendations of the Mathur panel had given new hope to victims of the riots.

 "By doing so, the government of India will assuage the bruised psyche of the Sikh community and help them get justice," Badal said.

 Hundreds of Sikhs were targeted and killed in Delhi and other places across India by mobs in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination by her two Sikh security personnel in October 1984.

 Many Congress leaders were accused of instigating mobs to target Sikhs during the riots.

 Meanwhile, an Akali Dal delegation Sunday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded an SIT to probe the 1984 riots as per recommendations of the committee.

 Stating that justice delayed was justice denied, party leader and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Committee chief Manjit Singh G.K. said: "We met the home minister and told him that the government should act on the recommendations of the Justice Mathur report and the SIT must be constituted with immediate effect."

 He said Rajnath Singh assured them that justice will be done.

 However, the Aam Aadmi Party attacked the government and described it as a political gimmick to woo voters ahead of the polls.

 AAP leader H.S. Phoolka said if it was true, the findings of the retired Supreme Court judge were a severe indictment of the BJP-led government which has continued to stall the SIT ordered by then chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in February 2014.

 "The government has to explain to the citizens of the country and the victims why it continued to stall this SIT for these nine months," he asked.

 "Badal continued to shift his stand on the SIT. In February 2014, he said there was no need of the SIT. When the NDA came to power, he said the SIT should be Supreme Court-monitored and later said there was no need of an SIT and a commission should be appointed."

 He said the findings of the Mathur panel were a severe indictment of Badal also.

US envoy to India stresses on improving trade ties

Kolkata, Feb 1 (IANS) Describing US President Barack Obama's visit as "transformative", that brought US-India relations to a new level, the American envoy to India Sunday said improving the economic ties was a key area.


 Speaking on the occasion of a book launch here, US Ambassador Richard Rahul Verma said the US was endeavouring to become India's "best partner".

 "This was a visit which pushed the relationship to a different level. The best line of the visit is that the president said India and US are natural partners, we know that. But, he said, we want to be India's best partner," said Verma.

 "We articulated different vision for our relationship and talked about cooperation in East Asia, on maritime issue, humanitarian issue, combating terrorism. We issued something called the Delhi declaration of friendship - something we haven't done with any other country," he said.

 About economic ties, Verma lamented the low volume of two-way trade.

 "Economic and trade ties were major issues during the talks and it has been agreed to increase the two-way trade by at least five time the current volume.

 "While the current trade volume is satisfactory, the percentage of export that go from US to India is two percent and vice versa its one percent, so we are barely reaching our potential," he said.

 Launching Swadesh Chatterjee's "Building Bridges: The Role of Indian Americans in Indo-US Relations", Verma said US and India have agreed to collaborate on jointly designing and producing defence equipment besides signing a 10 year deal for joint military exercises.

 "We had quite breakthrough in defence, signing a 10-year deal to bring our militaries together, we will do more training, more exercises. We agreed to start building and designing things together. We have picked four projects that we going to work on jointly and also formed two working groups for military assistance," he said.

 About the civil nuclear pact for which Chatterjee played a key role in pushing the deal, Verma credited the heads of the two countries for finally clinching the deal that had been in the limbo for a decade.

 "We had a breakthrough understanding in the civil nuclear deal which had got stuck in the liability issue since the day it was passed. But it took the leaders of the two countries to get the breakthrough. This is surely a great pathway forward not just for US or other companies but for India's ability to generate non carbon-based electricity," added Verma.

 "The president during his departure told me that now, it was the time for the hard work to begin, and we are ready to begin that hard work," he said.

Kejriwal accuses BJP of failing to protect women

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal Sunday asked the people of Delhi to vote for his party and accused the BJP of failing to protect women and cut down inflation.


 Addressing a rally in north Delhi's Shastri Nagar area ahead of the Feb 7 assembly elections, Kejriwal lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party on many issues related to women, inflation and black money.

 Hitting out at the BJP-led government at the Centre, the Aam Aadmi Party chief said the BJP had promised during the Lok Sabha election campaign to provide security to women but failed.

 "They gave slogans like 'Bahut hue nari par war, abki bar Modi sarkar'. In the last few days, they are targeting women," Kejriwal said.

 Giving examples supporting his statement, the former Delhi chief minister referred to BJP leaders, and said: "One (BJP) leader says women should give birth to four children, another says not four but five."

 Reminding the people about a statement by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, he said: "Khattar saheb said I will not allow girls to wear jeans."

 "A (BJP) leader says girls should not use mobile phones. Another says girls should not be more literate. Another says girls should not do jobs," Kejriwal said.

 "Where do they want to take India? Do they want to take India back to the 17th and 18th centuries? How will they protect women? If it were in their hands, they would bundle up women inside a room and lock it from the outside," Kejriwal said.

Modi vs Kejriwal vs Sonia on last Sunday before Delhi polls (Roundup)

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal Sunday made determined bids to woo the people of Delhi for Feb 7 assembly polls, launching sharp attacks on their rivals while seeking to convey their commitment to politics of development.


 Raising the pitch on last Sunday before voting, Modi, Kejriwal and Gandhi addressed rallies in different parts of the national capital and drew enthusiastic response from their supporters.

 Though the battle is largely seen to be between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party, Congress sees itself as a "dark horse". In the 2013 election to the 70-member assembly, AAP won 28 seats and finished a close second to the BJP which won 31 seats. Congress only got eight.

 In his rally in West Delhi's Dwarka area, Modi focused his attack mainly on AAP, and said the national capital needs an administration which works in harmony with his central government.

 Gandhi, addressing a rally near Badarpur in south Delhi, slammed Modi as a "pracharak" and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as "dharnebaaj", while Kejriwal, in his rally at Shastri Nagar in north Delhi, taunted Modi over promises of bring back black money and accused BJP of failing to fulfill its promises on women's security.

 Modi hit out at both the AAP and Congress for making "false promises" and in an attack on the former, said Delhi does not need a government "which launches agitations day and night".

 He urged people not to give a fractured mandate and ensure full majority for his party, saying even a small activity in the national capital has an impact.

 Thanking Delhi's people for their support in the Lok Sabha elections, he said: "I have to return it by doing development. I have to solve problems in every part (of Delhi). Give me a chance to serve you."

 Modi said Delhi needs a responsible, sensitive government and running an administration was a serious task. "You cannot do it by running away," he said, taking a dig at Kejriwal who quit as chief minister after 49 days.

 Referring to petrol and diesel prices coming down due to international factors since he assumed office, Modi said his rivals credit it to good luck but if "common man can save money due to (my) good luck, why bring someone who does not have good luck".

 Gandhi, who addressed her first election rally, said her party would bring back the "atmosphere of development" in Delhi, if voted to power and accused BJP and AAP of making false promises.

 "While one party has a pracharak (referring Modi's days in RSS), who only does 'prachar (promotion)', the other has a dharnebaaj (agitator),"  she said, adding that the country does not run only on slogans.

 Accusing the central government of being anti-farmer and diluting the land acquisition law, Gandhi also raised incidents of communal violence in Trilokpuri and vandalisation of a church in Dilshad Garden, calling for defeating forces which spread "politics of hatred".

 She also questioned Modi government's sincerity in fighting corruption while slamming the AAP for running away from its responsibilities by quitting government.  

 Kejriwal, in his rally, hit back at Congress and BJP leaders and said he sits in protest not for himself but for causes concerning people.

 He hit out the BJP for failing to honour its commitment to bring back black money and now giving insurance of Rs.1 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.

 "Before elections they said we will bring Rs.15 lakh (into each account) in 100 days. After elections, they are saying first you die, then you will get Rs.1 lakh," he said.

 Kejriwal also attacked the BJP over remarks of some of its leaders concerning women.

 "How will they protect women? If it is in  their hands, they will bundle women in a room and lock it from outside," he said.