New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday criticized the appointment of former defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma as the new Comptroller and Auditor General, accusing the United Progressive Alliance government of accusing of weakening constitutional institutions.
"Government is slowly but continuously appointing persons who are weak and who don't have spine to watchdog bodies like CAG, CVC (Central Vigilance Commission), CIC (Central Information Commission), Election Commission which keep an eye on the government," party leader and lawyer Prashant Bhushan said at a press conference in Delhi.
He contended that Sharma's appointment as CAG rakes up a debate of conflict of interest since he would be entrusted the task of auditing defence deals between 2003-10 - the time during which he was in the defence ministry.
"Interestingly, the whole process of selection of Vinod Rai's successor took place in complete secrecy. Yet, none of the political parties raised this issue. Why?" he asked....
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04:29 AM, May 22, 2013
New Delhi: Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma was on Tuesday named as the new Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). The 1976 Bihar cadre officer will succeed Vinod Rai, who superannuates tomorrow after five and a half years of eventful tenure as the head of the Constitutional financial watchdog. "The President of India has appointed Shashi Kant Sharma, IAS, as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, in terms...
07:47 PM, May 21, 2013
India and China on Monday signed eight agreements during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India. Premier Li held talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and issues along the Indo-China border were also discussed. ...
07:27 PM, May 20, 2013
Gurgaon: Indian National Defence University, a dedicated first-of-its-kind institution for training and research in military studies, will be set up in Gurgaon close to the national capital Delhi. The foundation stone of INDU, to be constituted under an Act of Parliament, will be laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on May 23, Deputy Commissioner PC Meena said. The proposed institute will be equipped with training and research facilities on all...
09:17 AM, May 20, 2013
New Delhi: Ahead of Chinese premier Li Keqiang's visit, the Cabinet Committee on Security is understood to have discussed the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) proposed by China to avoid any flare-up situation between the troops of the two sides at the Line of Actual Control. The meeting finalised the agenda for Li's visit and is understood to have discussed India's stand on the BDCA proposed by the Chinese side...
03:50 AM, May 17, 2013
New Delhi: Against the backdrop of several alleged sex scandals in the force, Defence Minister AK Antony on Tuesday asked the Navy to take "sternest possible action" against its officers who are found involved in such "inappropriate behaviour". Referring to some isolated incidents of inappropriate behaviour by a few personnel, Antony urged top Commanders to take sternest possible action against those who tarnish the image and prestige of the armed...
07:50 PM, May 14, 2013
Panaji: Indian Navy's indigenously-built aircraft carrier would be launched on August 12, 2013, while INS Vikramaditya (purchased from Russia) will arrive before the end of 2013, Union Defence Minister AK Antony said in Panaji on Saturday. "INS Vikramaditya is going to be a reality, as promised the ship would be delivered before the end of this year," Antony told reporters after the commissioning of fighter aircraft MiG29K into Navy at...
04:12 PM, May 11, 2013
Panaji: New-age fighter aircraft MiG29K was on Saturday commissioned ceremoniously into the Indian Navy in the presence of Defence Minister AK Antony at INS Hansa near in Panaji. The aircraft would be attached to aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, which would be commissioned later this year. The MiG29K squadron - initially comprising of 16 aircraft - has been christened 'Black Panthers' and would be known by its naval name 'INAS 303'....
02:59 PM, May 11, 2013
Beijing: China on Wednesday accused the United States of sowing discord between China and its neighbours after the Pentagon said Beijing is using espionage to fuel its military modernisation, branding Washington the "real hacking empire". The latest salvo came a day after China's foreign ministry dismissed as groundless a Pentagon report which accused China for the first time of trying to break into US defence computer networks. The Pentagon also...
11:32 AM, May 08, 2013
New Delhi: CBI has issued a lookout notice against a former IAF chief in connection with alleged irregularities in procurement of VVIP helicopters, Defence Minister AK Antony told the Lok Sabha on Monday. In a written reply to the House, he said, "CBI has issued Lookout notice against a number of individuals in India including a former chief of IAF in connection with the said case." Though Antony did not...
08:15 PM, May 06, 2013
Milan: The former CEO of the Italian defense giant Finmeccanica was released on Saturday from jail pending his trial on corruption charges in June. Giuseppe Orsi, who was held for some 80 days in pre-trial detention, faces charges for his alleged involvement in the payment of bribes to secure a 560 million euro ($670 million) deal to sell 12 helicopters to India. A speedy trial for Orsi, who was head...
12:56 PM, May 05, 2013
Rome: The 'instant trial' in Rome against ex-CEO of the Italian state-controlled defence giant Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi and the CEO of its helicopter unit AgustaWestland, Bruno Spagnoli for alleged kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal with India will begin on June 19. A judge in the northern Italian town of Busto Arsizio granted a prosecutor's request for the instant trial, which eliminates preliminary hearings, Italian news agency...
08:09 PM, May 03, 2013
Washington: The Pentagon on Thursday cleared BlackBerry and Samsung mobile devices for use on Defence Department networks, a step toward opening up the military to a wide variety of technology equipment makers while still ensuring communications security. Lieutenant Colonel Damien Pickart, a Pentagon spokesman, said the department cleared the use of BlackBerry 10 smart phones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets using its Enterprise Service 10 system, as well as Samsung's Android...
12:47 PM, May 03, 2013
Ghaziabad: In the Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case, defence counsel pleaded before a special court in Ghaziabad on Thursday to summon former CBI joint director Arun Kumar as witness. Defence counsel Manoj Shishodia said he submitted an application before Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge S Lal to summon 13 people, including Arun Kumar, for testimony. The court reserved the order on the application for Friday. "Of the 13 witnesses...
05:40 AM, May 03, 2013
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony on Tuesday discussed ways of resolving the Chinese incursion issue with the top security brass of the country and emphasised that India will take every step to safeguard its interests there. Addressing the Unified Commanders' Conference, he said the current situation in Ladakh where Chinese Army troops have camped for over two weeks is "not one of our creation" and India wanted a peaceful...
10:35 PM, Apr 30, 2013
New Delhi: The government on Monday told the Supreme Court that there were no guidelines or rules to regulate the working of private security agencies and an offence by a private security guard would be individual in nature and no liability could be attributed to their agency. "There is no concept of vicarious liability under IPC (Indian Penal Code) and for the use of firearm resulting in the commission of...
04:21 AM, Apr 30, 2013
New Delhi: Rejecting the Defence Ministry's view on foreign direct investment, a Parliamentary committee has recommended enhancement in FDI limit to attract foreign companies as it would benefit the Indian defence sector in the long run and save precious foreign exchange. The Standing Committee on Defence took note of the divergent views within the Ministry over the issue. While the Department of Defence Production opposes FDI, the DRDO favours it,...
02:45 AM, Apr 30, 2013
New Delhi: Three Navy officers are being terminated from service for divulging secret information on social networking websites such as Facebook and the primary reason for these cases of indiscipline was "moral turpitude", the Defence Ministry has informed a Parliamentary panel. It also told the Standing Committee on Defence that in three cases of face-offs between troops and officers in the Army, the forces have taken action against 219 officers,...
09:11 PM, Apr 29, 2013
New Delhi: Observing that deployment in counter-insurgency operations was straining the resources of the Army, a Parliamentary panel on Monday said the force should be relieved from these tasks to focus on undertaking its regular conventional duties. In its report tabled on Monday, the Standing Committee on Defence expressed concern for saving lives of soldiers in counter-terrorist operations and slammed the Defence Ministry for its "lackadaisical attitude" for doing away...
06:50 PM, Apr 29, 2013
New Delhi: Anglo-Italian defence firm AgustaWestland has participated in bids to procure choppers for Indian Navy and Coast Guard as no decision has been taken by the government to debar it from the procurement process, Defence Minister AK Antony told the Lok Sabha on Monday. In a written reply to the House, he said the Request for Proposal (RFP) for procurement of the Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) was issued before...
05:11 PM, Apr 29, 2013
