New Delhi: Taking on CAG Vinod Rai over the 2G spectrum loss figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore, Union Minister Manish Tewari on Monday said the chief auditor had done a "disservice" to the India story by bringing out "hugely exaggerated and mythical numbers" in public discourse. Tewari also invited Rai to a public debate over the loss estimate in the allocation of 2G spectrum.
"We've seen this great debate around certain hugely exaggerated and mythical numbers which have been thrown in public debate by certain very responsible institutions and functionaries. And with due respect, because the gentleman is supposed to retire the day after... I think when institutions start indulging in fiction writing that is the greatest disservice that can possibly be done to an issue," he said.
The minister was speaking at an event here organised by the Observer Research Foundation. "I think the CAG over the past six years, with all due respects to him, has done the greatest disservice to the India story by tossing mythical numbers into the public space which had no relation to reality," Tewari added.
Later, Tewari speaking to reporters wondered why Rs 1.76 lakh crore was not generated in the 2G auction and invited Rai to a public debate on the issue. "The (CAG) report had said that if an auction is held, it would yield a revenue to the tune of Rs 1 lakh 76 thousand crore. The fact is that an auction was held. But where
07:52 PM, May 20, 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
Limassol: Indian boxers scaled new frontiers as they powered through to claim the top rank and bag the 2013 Invitational FXTM International Limassol Boxing Cup. The Indian pugilists displayed grit and talent throughout the tournament and a stunning performance particularity in the finals Sunday with a total tally of 10 medals - four gold, three silver and three bronze - ensured a first place in the overall standings for the...
06:56 PM, May 20, 2013
Twenty-six-year old doctor Ruveda Salam has become the first woman from the Kupwara district in Kashmir to crack the IAS examination. Her name is now added to the small list of youth Valley icons like IAS topper Shah Faesal and cricketer Parvez Rasool. Dr Ruveda Salam joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on how she prepared for the examinations, what difficulties she faced and her message to the valley's youth....
06:48 PM, May 20, 2013
Coming at a time when mutual trust between the two countries is not at a significant high, what are the major takeaways for India from this high-profile visit? Alka Acharya, director of Institute of Chinese Studies, joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the matter. Q. Dear Madam, Do you think that it will be an advantage for India if its relationship with China improves after the Chinese Premier visit...
06:41 PM, May 20, 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. Following is the text of Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh's statement to the media following delegation level talks with Chinese Premier HE Li Keqiang in New Delhi today: "It is an honour for me to welcome...
02:34 PM, May 20, 2013
Agartala: The opposition Congress in Tripura has called a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the municipal corporation area here on Tuesday to protest the killing of three employees of a local Bengali daily. Leader of the Opposition Ratan Lal Nath, belonging to the Congress, said on Monday that the killing proved that journalists and newspaper employees were not safe in the state. "This is unprecedented in the state as well as in...
01:59 PM, May 20, 2013
Chennai: S.S. Rajamouli's Telugu blockbuster revenge-drama 'Eega' will be screened at the 18th edition of the Busan International Film Festival, South Korea. It is the fifth foreign film extravaganza for which the film has been chosen. It was recently selected for international film festivals in Cannes, Madrid, Shanghai and Puchon. "(I) got the official confirmation. 'Eega' is being screened at Busan International Film Festival in South Korea," Rajamouli posted on...
11:51 AM, May 20, 2013
Washington: A US-based Sikh group on Monday said that it will challenge the decision of an American district court last week to dismiss alleged human rights violations case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The Sikh for Justice (SFJ) had filed the case of alleged human rights violations against Badal in 2012, but it was dismissed by a US district court in Wisconsin last Friday. The group said it...
11:40 AM, May 20, 2013
No Mercedes or BMW here. Actress and TV host Mandira Bedi surprised onlookers as she drove to an event in a TATA Nano. The event was organised by People Magazine and had Deepika Padukone, Huma Quereshi and other film stars as part of the guest list. We think Mandira opted for the small car to beat Mumbai's traffic. Also, it was nice to see a celebrity having the 'courage' to...
11:32 AM, May 20, 2013
New Delhi: After the stand-off in Ladakh, it was a positive start to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's three-day visit to India. Keqiang on Monday said that he and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held productive talks on Sunday evening at the dinner hosted by the Prime Minister. He also called for building mutual trust between the two countries. "India is China's important neighbour. On Sunday, PM Manmohan Singh and I had...
10:15 AM, May 20, 2013
New Delhi: Even as the arrested cricketers and bookies are being interrogated in the IPL spot-fixing scandal for the fourth day on Monday, CNN-IBN has learned that Rajasthan Royals player S Sreesanth's lawyer could be applying for bail. The five-day police custody of the three cricketers - S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan - and the bookies ends on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the probe continues to snare more and more...
09:27 AM, 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: After the stand-off in Ladakh, it looks to be a positive start to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India. Premier Li arrived in India on Sunday on a three-day visit. On Sunday evening, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Premier Li for a private dinner where he raised the border incursion issue. Sources say that he stressed on the need for peace on the border. Sources have also...
08:38 AM, May 20, 2013
New Delhi: In a firm message to China, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday night voiced India's serious concern over the recent Chinese incursion in Ladakh and told his counterpart Li Keqiang that in the absence of peace and tranquility along the border, bilateral ties will suffer as the two leaders held hour-long cordial but candid talks. 57-year-old Li, on his first foreign trip since becoming Prime Minister two months...
12:33 AM, May 20, 2013
Hyderabad: The two Congress Cabinet ministers, accused in Jagan Reddy disproportionate assets case, submitted their resignations to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Sunday night. Dharmana Prasad Rao and Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy met Kiran Kumar on Sunday night, who briefed them about his meet with Sonia Gandhi and other leaders regarding the opposition's demand for their resignations. Both the ministers, who had served in the...
11:59 PM, May 19, 2013
New Delhi: The IPL spot-fixing net is getting bigger by the day. A third day of interrogation of the three Rajasthan Royals cricketers S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, accused of spot-fixing, have revealed clear patterns of the murky deals that have shamed Indian cricket. It now emerges that domestic and first class cricketers were allegedly acting as conduits for top bookies and players. After Jiju and Amit Singh,...
09:07 PM, May 19, 2013
New Delhi: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday began talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on all crucial bilateral issues within hours of his arrival here when he affirmed that his visit will "inject new vigour" into bilateral ties and strengthen mutual trust. The Prime Minister is also hosting the Chinese Premier at a private dinner, ahead of a formal banquet on Monday. 57-year-old Li, accompanied by a senior-level...
08:27 PM, May 19, 2013
