Asia Tuesday, April 16, 2019 07 PM giving away public money News Duterte signs $71 bn national budget after long delay in brief to industrialists: Rahul Gandhi Reuters chambers of the house de- MANILA layed the transmission of this IANS give every Indian Rs 15 lakh of year’s national budget to the Pakistan govt denies Agra black money he had promised Philippines President president. rumours of shuffle to bring back from abroad. “The Rodrigo Duterte on Mon- For next year, economic in federal cabinet Congress President Rahul Prime Minister promised that day signed a 3.7 trillion peso managers will propose a 4.1 Gandhi on Monday accused Rs 15 lakh will be deposited in ($71.5 billion) budget for trillion peso ($79.35 billion) Islamabad: The government Prime Minster Narendra Modi everyone’s bank account but not this year, its largest ever, national budget. The Phil- on Monday denied rumours of giving away public money to one person got a single penny,” ending months of impasse ippines, among the fastest of a major shuffle in the big industrialists. Addressing an he said. The Congress President that forced the Southeast growing economies in Asia, federal cabinet after sections election rally here, the Congress slammed Modi for wasting pub- Asian country to cuts its is aiming for growth of 6.5- of the media reported that President said: “Narendra Modi lic money on promoting himself. growth target. 7.5 percent in 2020, and 7-8 Finance Minister Asad Umar is stealing public money and “You see Modi’s advertise- The Philippines last percent in 2021 and 2022, and other ministers would giving it to industrialists.” He ments all the time. Switch on month cut its 2019 growth mainly through an extensive have their portfolios changed. also accused Modi of destroying the TV and Modi is there, on ra- target to 6-7 percent from Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. infrastructure overhaul. In a tweet, Information Min- farmers all across the country. dio, road and everywhere, there 7-8 percent, reflecting the The Philippine economy ister Fawad Chaudhry denied He also accused Modi of is Modi,” he said in Fatehpur absence of a new budget and $1.8 billion worth of appro- include non-priority public grew 6.2 percent in 2018, the all rumours and said that telling a lie to the people in the Sikri, and demanded to know the impact of the US-China priations, Executive Sec- works, he said. slowest in three years, be- Prime Minister Imran Khan 2014 Lok Sabha election cam- where was the BJP getting all trade dispute. In signing the retary Salvador Medialdea Months of squabbling be- cause of weak exports, manu- was not mulling any changes. paign when he promised to this money from. budget, the president vetoed told reporters. Vetoed items tween the upper and lower facturing and farm output. Fawad said, “there is no truth” in the news about a change of federal ministers and asked the media to be responsible in their reporting. Pakistan reaches ‘deal (tribune.com.pk) Three-day India ban on Malaysia revived China railway to avoid in principle’ with IMF $5 bn penalty: PM Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia campaigning by a state over bailout package would have faced a $5-bil- lion penalty if a China- Reuters thorities, an IMF mission will backed rail project was ISLAMABAD be going to Pakistan before the axed, the prime minister CM over hate speech end of April to continue the said Monday, after a deal Pakistan has reached an discussions,” the IMF said in a was reached to revive the “agreement in principle” with statement. controversial scheme. Last IMF over bailout package, the Pakistani Finance Minister week Malaysia and China country’s state minister for Asad Umar earlier this month agreed to push ahead with revenue said on Monday after visited Washington for talks the railway at a 30-percent the lending body announced with the IMF, which on Mon- lower cost, lifting a sus- arrival of its staff mission in day described those talks as pension slapped on the Islamabad later this month. “constructive discussions”. project when a corruption- A mission team from plagued regime lost power the International Monetary in Malaysia last year. It Fund (IMF) will travel to Pa- was among several Beijing- kistan this month, the IMF financed infrastructure said in a statement. initiatives put on hold after Hammad Azhar, the min- the change of government, ister, said the staff mission’s as new leaders sought to visit was just aimed at finalis- reduce a mammoth na- ing technical details. tional debt. (AFP) “An agreement in principle has been reached with IMF,” Indonesia presidential he announced in a tweet, race pits heavy metal hours after Pakistan’s Finance against the general Minister Asad Umar returned home from Washington where Jakarta: Indonesia’s heavy he had meetings with the IMF Pakistan FM Asad Umar. metal-loving leader Joko and World Bank. Widodo faces off against Pakistan was last year ex- The government of Prime ex-military general Prabowo pected to sign up for its 13th Minister Imran Khan, who Subianto in the race to lead IMF bailout programme since took power in August, has the world’s third-biggest de- the late 1980s but talks ground obtained temporary relief mocracy Wednesday, a re-run to a halt, with Pakistani of- from close allies such as of the 2014 election contest ficials saying the conditions China and Saudi Arabia with narrowly won by Widodo. A re- attached to the proposed IMF short-term loans worth more cord 245,000 candidates are loans could hurt economic than $10 billion to buffer for- running for public office from growth. Pakistan’s macroeco- eign currency reserves and the presidency down to local nomic outlook has deteriorat- ease pressures on the coun- legislator positions, including ed in recent months, with the try’s current account. an Olympic gold medallist, central bank lowering growth But analysts have been a pop diva, a frontman who forecasts and raising rates at a saying an IMF bailout is inevi- lost his bandmates and wife time when inflation is at a five- table, with Pakistan also fac- in a killer tsunami and even a (File photo) Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath (centre) has gained notoriety for his ‘hate-mongering’ against India’s Muslim minority. year high. The rupee currency ing an increasing fiscal crunch late dictator’s son convicted has also lost about 35 percent ahead of the annual budget of masterminding a judge’s since December 2017. spending review for the next murder. (AFP) The poll panel in its ban order says that BJP leader Adityanath last week “At the request of the au- financial year starting July 1. BJP-Congress-CPI-M spoke about a ‘green virus’, apparently referring to Muslim voters in nexus to defeat Reuters After Yogi, Mayawati, will EC act against Modi: Cong The ban on the Dalit leader, Trinamool: Mamata NEW DELHI Mayawait, would run for two Election Commission bans Kolkata: West Bengal Chief New Delhi: Welcoming the Election Commission’s (EC) curbs on days, it said. A spokesman for Minister Mamata Banerjee India’s election commission BSP chief Mayawati and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adity- Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Par- AIADMK’s advertisement on Monday accused the BJP, on Monday banned a firebrand anath’s campaigning, the Congress on Monday asked if the poll ty, which is in an alliance with Congress and the CPI-M of Hindu nationalist state chief panel would now act against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. another regional party in Uttar IANS mission said the telecast of forming a nexus to defeat the minister from campaigning for “The EC has pushed pause button on hate speech campaign- Pradesh, could not be reached. Chennai the video should be stopped Trinamool Congress in the three days to stop him stoking ers! Vindicates our stand that hate campaigners like Adityanath Staggered voting in the gen- forthwith. Further telecast of Lok Sabha elections in the hatred between religious com- should be barred from campaigning. eral election began last Thurs- In a major setback to the rul- the advertisement will attract state. Banerjee’s allegation munities in a divisive election Acting on our complaint, the EC shut the mouths of those day and will end on May 19. ing AIADMK, the Election severe punishment and penal came at an election rally in that will end next month. spreading hatred,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Although jobs, nationalism and Commission of India (EC) on provisions of the Cable TV Act Murshidabad district where The saffron-clad Yogi Adi- Surjewala said in a tweet. “Will the EC act against Modiji, now?” conditions for farmers are the Monday banned its advertise- and other laws in force. her party is in a four-cornered tyanath, from Prime Minister he asked. (IANS) main issues, religion is an im- ment running in television The DMK had com- battle with the three. The Tri- Narendra Modi’s ruling party, portant and sensitive topic. and social media on grounds plained to the Election namool has never won any of had been warned this month Modi’s Bharatiya Janata in all-together development for The BJP repeated in its that it violated its model code Commission against the the three Lok Sabha seats in about his campaign speeches, Party (BJP) has been playing to all, and we don’t believe in any manifesto a commitment to of conduct (MCC). AIADMK’s advertisement Murshidabad -- Baharampur, the election commission said its nationalist base and paint- polarization,” the spokesman, build a Hindu temple in the In a letter issued to all which made baseless allega- Murshidabad and Jangipur. in its order. ing its rivals as soft on terrorism Harish Srivastava, said. northern town of Ayodhya at the media (TV channels and tions against it. She also accused the Rash- The commission said Adity- and eager to appease Muslims, The election commission a site disputed by Muslims, Print), the poll body said the The poll body in its letter triya Swayamsevak Sangh anath, a holy man who is chief who make up about 14 percent also imposed a ban on the pow- seeking to gain the support of AIADMK’s advertisement said political parties are tel- (RSS) of funding the Con- minister of Uttar Pradesh state, of India’s 1.3 billion population. erful leader of the Dalits, peo- majority Hindus. “Oru Kudumba Aatchi” (rule ecasting/ broadcasting their gress’ Baharampur candidate had spoken about a “green vi- A BJP spokesman said the ple at the bottom of the Hindu Last week, BJP president of one family) is telecast in advertisements without the and sitting MP Adhir Ranjan rus” in a speech last week, ap- party was inclusive towards caste structure, saying she had Amit Shah referred to illegal electronic and social media approval of the State Level Chowdhury and its Jangipur parently referring to Muslim all communities and its lead- violated a code of conduct by Muslim immigrants as “ter- based on unverified allega- Media Certification and Mon- candidate. (IANS) voters who he said were being ers were discussing the ban on asking Muslims to vote en bloc mites” and vowed to throw tions or distortions. The Com- itoring Committee. wooed by opposition parties. Adityanath. “The party believes for opposition candidates. them into the sea.

Climate fears intensify as floods, storms batter parts of Pakistan Afghan politicians to boycott Loya Jirga grand assembly

Islamabad: Flash floods and windstorm have killed nearly dpa the assembly, pointing out that in the upcoming presidential two dozen people in several parts of Pakistan, officials said Kabul US not for ‘precipitous’ pullout his team had not been con- election set for September 28. on Monday, reinforcing fears of the potential impact of climate from Afghanistan: Senator sulted prior to the decision of According to observers, the change in the South Asian region. Several influential Afghan holding the assembly. move will seriously damage the A passenger van was swept away by gushing waters in the politicians have said that they Kabul: The United States does not want to pursue a “pre- A source close to Abdullah legitimacy of the assembly, as north-western region of Waziristan, near the Afghan border, kill- will boycott the upcoming cipitous” withdrawal from Afghanistan, a top Democratic law- who wished to remain anony- well as the peace process. ing eight people, local official Asad Bokhari said. Loya Jirga “grand assembly” maker said in Kabul on Monday amid an ongoing push to end mous said other reasons in- The Afghan govt has been Heavy rain on the Afghan side of the border caused moun- that is scheduled to take place the war. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who sits on the influential clude monopoly over the man- making an effort to sit with Tal- tain streams to flood in Pakistani regions, destroying houses, in Kabul on April 29. Senate Armed Services Committee that oversees the US agement and concerns over the iban, country’s main insurgent roads and bridges, Bokhari added. The politicians include military, also stressed that women must have a place at the assembly being used for politi- group, in order to find a peace- At least five people were killed by windstorm in the south- current and former Afghan table as the US tries to negotiate with the Taliban. (AFP) cal objectives. ful solution to the conflict. The ern port city of Karachi on Monday morning, rescue official government members such as Atmar, who is also a presi- Taliban, who so far have refused Shayan Shah said. Afghan Chief Executive Ab- dential candidate, has said the to speak to the Afghan govern- The winds caused delay to several flights and rail traffic dullah Abdullah and former from across the country are lines of a possible peace deal Jirga is a waste of time and an ment, which the militants call a was briefly suspended, bringing the city of around 20 million head of the National Security to take part in the consulta- with the Taliban. “effort for an illegal election “puppet regime,” last week said people to a halt, Shah added. (dpa) Council, Haneef Atmar. Up to tive grand assembly to form a However, Abdullah Abdul- campaign” by Afghan President that Afghan officials can attend 2,500 public representatives national consensus on the red lah has declined to take part in Ashraf Ghani, who is running an upcoming meeting.