Fundamentals of Indian economy are in good shape: Nirmala Sitharaman

 Fundamentals of Indian economy are in good shape: Nirmala Sitharaman

 

New Delhi: While the value of the dollar is increasing in the international market, the value of the Indian rupee is also increasing. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserted that India's economic base is strong and inflation is low compared to other countries. Speaking to the media after attending the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, he said that the country's inflation is at a manageable level. The fundamentals of India's economy are sound. Microeconomics is basically good. Foreign exchange is also good, he said. Outside international meetings, Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held 24 bilateral and more than 12 multilateral meetings. He said that the government is trying to bring the country's inflation below 6 percent. Many countries have been hit hard by external factors, the minister said, adding that countries like Turkey have a double-digit inflation problem. Therefore, we must be conscious of where we stand relative to the rest of the world. He said that we are very conscious especially about the financial deficit. Responding to another question about the decline in the Indian rupee, he said it was due to the strengthening of the dollar. All other currencies are working against the dollar. I will not talk about the technicalities, but the fact that the Indian rupee has probably withstood this dollar rate, the exchange rate is in favor of the dollar strengthening, the Indian rupee has been doing better than many other emerging market currencies, he said.

 

The Enforcement Directorate is 'fully independent'; Not used for revenge: Nirmala Sitharaman

 


WASHINGTON: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the Enforcement Directorate is 'completely independent', dismissing allegations that the government is using the investigative body for political or vindictive purposes. Addressing a press conference on Saturday at the end of his trip to Washington to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, he denied the allegations, saying that he was not using the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to create any kind of fear in the corporate sector and civil society. The ED is completely independent in whatever it does and is a proactive crime-pursuing agency. First the crime is taken up by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or some other agency. Later he said that ED will investigate the case. Denying the allegation that such investigative agencies are being used to go after private capital and other sections of civil society, he clarified that investigative agencies have not been used for any such malicious purpose. Asked if he wanted to clarify and reassure the think tank communities about the role of ED and IT, Sitharaman said, "Whatever ED does is only after getting proper information and evidence." In no case does ED appear anywhere in the first instance. I do not wish to comment on individual cases or methodology. But, there are certainly instances that stand out. Sitharaman said that if the ED goes there, it is clear that it has some prima facie evidence in its hands.


Boat capsize accident in Bihar: Seven farm laborers killed

 

 Katihar: Seven people died after a boat capsized at the confluence of the Ganges and its tributaries in Bihar, an official said on Sunday. According to Katihar District Collector Ujjaini Mishra, 'The boat was carrying 10 people. All of them were agricultural laborers returning from work. The boat sank at the confluence of Ganga and Barandi late on Saturday night. In the accident, three people in the boat swam to safety. However, the remaining seven are missing. The bodies were recovered after an overnight search operation with the help of local divers and NDRF personnel, he said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief over the incident and has instructed the district administration to provide a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased.

 

 Terrible accident near Araseikere in Hassan: Tanker driver in police custody, Rs 2 lakh each for the family of the deceased. Solution

 

 Bengaluru: Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai has announced a compensation of 2 lakh rupees to the family members of 9 persons who died late last night after paying darshan of Hassanambe at Dharmasthala Manjunath, Kukke Subrahmanya Temple and reaching Banavara of Araseikere in Tammur Hassan. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, "An order has been given to give 2 lakh each to the family members of the deceased and appropriate treatment to the injured. I have instructed the authorities to take appropriate action and I have spoken to the SP there." The post-mortem examination of the deceased has been completed this morning and has now reached Swagram, where the family members and relatives are in mourning. The funeral will be held in Salapur, Doddenahalli and Banavara. Tanker driver in police custody: The milk tanker driver has been taken into custody by the police in connection with the horrific road accident case near Araseikere in Hassan. 9 members of the same family died tragically in a terrible road accident that took place between a tempo traveller, a milk lorry and a transport bus. Naveen, the driver of the milk tanker, who came on one way and caused the accident, left the vehicle and ran away after the accident. Navinnagha has now been taken into custody by Banavara policeTop of Form

 




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