New Delhi: In an embarrassment for Bharatiya Janata Party patriarch LK Advani, a party leader and close aide of Karnataka Janata Paksha chief BS Yeddyurappa, Lehar Singh Siroya, has written a tell-all open letter. He has alleged that Advani compromised on corruption in the past when it suited his own interest.
The letter that severely criticises Advani has been sent to him and BJP President Rajnath Singh by Lahar Singh Siroya. Siroya has slammed Advani for taking the high moral ground over corruption and pushing for the removal of BS Yeddyurappa, which cost the BJP in the state election dearly.
He has accused Advani of turning a blind eye towards corruption when it suited him. Siroya says Advani never inquired where the money came from for his rallies and yatras and neither did he ask the source of funding that brought the BJP to power in Karnataka in 2008 and gave the BJP its largest contingent of MPs in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
Siroya is close to BS Yeddyurappa and his letter reflects a growing call within the party to bring the former Karnataka chief minister back into the fold. ...
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10:16 AM, May 16, 2013
New Delhi: In the backdrop of the Ladakh incursion and the rising Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean, Indian and Chinese army officers will discuss border management and confidence building measures at Nathu La in Sikkim on Wednesday. Indian Army officers will go across to the Chinese side for the talks. This will be followed by another round of talks on September 15 when Chinese officers will come to...
08:14 AM, May 15, 2013
New Delhi: Four days after the face off with Chinese troops ended at Raki Nulla in eastern Ladakh, there's no clarity in Delhi on just why it happened. Indian diplomats expect some of the fog will clear when External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid returns from Beijing. "It could have been a signal to India, that they wanted movement on the draft of the defence cooperation agreement they had handed over...
03:35 PM, May 10, 2013
Bangalore: Karnataka BJP MLC Lehar Singh Siroya blamed his party's loss in the state Assembly elections to former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa being driven out by the leadership. "Losing Yeddyurappa was the biggest mistake. I would want him to come back to party. The party cadre wants Yeddyurappa to return to the BJP. I admit that party high command made some mistakes," said Siroya. Claiming that Yeddyurappa was forced to...
10:45 AM, May 08, 2013
New Delhi: India's quiet diplomacy was at work again, as New Delhi kept the phone lines with Beijing continuously ringing to defuse the 20-day stand-off on the border, conveying firmly that the Chinese troops would have to revert to status quo that existed before the April 15, 2013 incursion. No deal was also made with China, as both sides resolved the stand-off on Sunday night, making way for External Affairs...
04:19 AM, May 08, 2013
India on Tuesday denied giving up a bunker in return for a Chinese pullback from Ladakh. Sources in the government say India has only dismantled a shelter that was set up 3 days after the Chinese incursion. ...
11:58 PM, May 07, 2013
New Delhi: After three weeks of a standoff between India and China along the Line of Actual Control ended on Monday, speculation is rising that India agreed to demolish a border observation bunker. China had objected to the bunker in the Chumar region in southern Ladakh. But the Ministry of External Affairs has denied this allegation. Chinese troops have regularly infiltrated the region in the recent past. The India-China face-off...
09:29 AM, May 07, 2013
New Delhi: With China-India standoff in Ladakh sector coming to an end, sources said on Monday that Delhi has not given in to any of the demands made by Beijing. "The governments of India and China have agreed to restore status quo along Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Western Sector as it existed prior to April 15. Flag meetings have been held to work out modalities and to confirm...
02:07 PM, May 06, 2013
New Delhi: There has been some relief for the government on the India-China border. The Chinese and Indian armies have withdrawn simultaneously from face-off point at the Daulat Beg Oldi sector in Ladakh. Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs say there were no talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese leaders and the agreement was reached at a diplomatic level. The procedure of withdrawal of troops of both...
08:59 AM, May 06, 2013
Tehran: India and Iran on Friday discussed the developing situation in Afghanistan and agreed to remain in regular contact. The two sides also inked three MoUs during the 17th meeting of the Iran-India Joint Economic Commission which is being held here on May 3-5. Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and his Iranian counterpart Ali-Akbar Salehi also discussed the Chabahar port project. Describing Iran as one of India's biggest...
11:43 PM, May 04, 2013
On Board Special Aircraft: India will participate in the upgradation of strategically crucial Chahbahar port in Iran, that gives access to Afghanistan, and the issue will be discussed when External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid holds talks with his counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. "We have taken a decision. We will collaborate for development of the port," Khurshid told reporters accompanying him on a three-day visit to Iran. He said the Cabinet...
02:30 AM, May 04, 2013
New Delhi: Ways to increase commercial links with sanctions-hit Iran to reduce huge bilateral trade imbalance will be high on the agenda when External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid travels to Tehran on Friday on a three-day visit. India's participation in the upgradation of Iran's Chahbahar port, which gives access to Afghanistan, will also be among a host of issues expected to figure in the talks that Khurshid will have with...
03:25 AM, May 03, 2013
The Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers have pitched their fifth tent in Ladakh after their intrusion, almost 18 km into Indian territory from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was first detected. How should India respond to this? Does India have the political will and other required capacities to force the Chinese to go back to their side of the LAC? Strategic affairs expert Bharat Karnad joined IBNLive readers for...
05:55 PM, Apr 30, 2013
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday said that as of now there was no plans to cancel his visit to Beijing in wake of Chinese incursion in Ladakh. He, however, appeared to keep his options open saying "one week is a long time in politics". "Can I cancel my visit? Government has to decide. There is no such decision and there is no reason we should do...
03:27 PM, Apr 30, 2013
Leh/New Delhi: India has decided not to up the ante against China even after the neighbouring country's troops reportedly erected another tent at Raki Nullah in eastern Ladakh. The standoff between the two countries has now entered the third week. However, the annual May 1 border personnel meeting may be used by India to bring up the issue of continued Chinese presence in Raki Nullah. It appears the intrusion is...
08:34 AM, Apr 30, 2013
Mumbai: Aware that they are up against a formidable batting side, Kings XI Punjab chief coach Darren Lehmann says their bowlers will have to do the job against Mumbai Indians, here on Monday. "Mumbai played really well (against RCB). Obviously they are a dangerous side, so we will have to bowl really well. If we have any strength, it`s our bowling. So I expect us to bowl well," said the...
12:24 AM, Apr 29, 2013
Ladakh: As China remains inside the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control, CNN-IBN tracked down the brave scouts who stood face to face with the Chinese platoon in the 1962 war. Many from Leh fought the Chinese in the 1962 war and many were taken prisoners of war (PAWs). Till today, Indian Army sees great value in recruiting and training locals to be soldiers and officers. In fact,...
09:26 AM, Apr 28, 2013
With the standoff between China and India continuing, tourism has been hit in Leh and Ladakh. ...
03:46 PM, Apr 27, 2013
New Delhi: The government on Friday told a Parliamentary Committee that Chinese troops have pitched tents 19 kms deep inside the Indian territory in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir and that efforts are underway to ensure that the status quo is maintained. Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and some other senior officials informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that India has deployed forces to "keep a close watch...
05:59 PM, Apr 26, 2013
Leh: The Chinese impasse in Ladakh has entered Day 11. As India continues to downplay the issue, Leh is unimpressed. More than the Chinese, the town and its bustling market have tourists on its mind. But even as normal life continues, they are blaming New Delhi for being soft on Beijing. The Chinese haven't managed to scare away tourists from the Leh town and locals who are pleasantly surprised that...
08:37 AM, Apr 26, 2013
