Govt can't confirm veracity of WikiLeaks documents: PM
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NEW DELHI: Refusing to buckle under attack over the Wikileaks expose, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today rubbished charges of bribery during the 2008 Trust Vote based on "speculative and unverified" cables and asserted that no one from Congress or government engaged in any "unlawful act".
Making a statement in both Houses of Parliament, an assertive Singh hit out at the Opposition for lending "dignity" to "purported" correspondence between the US Embassy here and State Department in Washington and raising "old charges that have been debated, discussed and rejected by the people of India."
Amid thumping of desks by the Treasury Benches, he said, "No one from the Congress party or government indulged in any unlawful act" during the July 2008 Confidence Motion.
"An issue was raised that the offence of bribery was committed in India. Government rejects the allegations absolutely and firmly," he said, referring to the charges in the Wikileaks that bribes were paid to win the Confidence Motion of UPA-I after Left withdrew support over Indo-US nuclear deal.
Raising questions over the cables cited by the Wikileaks website, the Prime Minister said in identical statements in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha that, "The government cannot confirm the veracity, content or even the existence of such communication."
To press his contention, he said those who have been named by the Wikileaks have "stoutly rejected" the charges.
Hitting out at the Opposition, he said it was "unfortunate" that it continues to raise the "old charges".
"It is most surprising that speculative, unverified and unverifiable communications should be given dignity and seized upon by the Opposition parties to revive old charges that have been soundly rejected," Singh said.
He pointed out that the UPA-I had won the Confidence Motion in July 2008 with 275 votes in favour and 256 against.
These allegations of bribery were investigated by a committee of the 14th Lok Sabha which concluded that there was insufficient evidence to draw any conclusion.
"I am disappointed that the Opposition has forgotten what happened thereafter. The Opposition repeated the allegations of bribery and how did the people respond," he said, citing the increase in Congress seats from 141 to 206 in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls as compared to BJP whose tally declined from 138 to 116 and that of Left parties from 59 to 34," he said.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Rupee gains 13 paise against dollar
MUMBAI: The rupee rose by 13 paise to Rs 45.05 per US dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange today, supported by higher opening in the domestic stock market and dollar's weakness against other Asian currencies overseas.
Forex dealers said a higher opening in the stock market and dollar losses against other Asian currencies kept the rupee sentiment firm.
The rupee had lost 7 paise to close at Rs 45.18/19 per dollar in the previous session.
Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange index Sensex today opened 109.74 points, or 0.60 per cent up at 18,259.61 level.
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Forex dealers said a higher opening in the stock market and dollar losses against other Asian currencies kept the rupee sentiment firm.
The rupee had lost 7 paise to close at Rs 45.18/19 per dollar in the previous session.
Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange index Sensex today opened 109.74 points, or 0.60 per cent up at 18,259.61 level.
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Sensex down 271 points with RIL plunging 3.71%
MUMBAI: The BSE Sensex fell 271 points today to close below the 18,000 mark as investors sold stocks, including blue-chip Reliance Industries, over concerns that surging oil prices will stoke inflation and lead to even higher interest rates.
The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark index Sensex, dipped 271.06 points to close at 17,878.81 after touching the day's low of 17,849.53, with investors selling oil and gas, auto, realty and banking stocks.
The gauge had lost 208.82 Points yesterday after the Reserve Bank increased key rates for the eighth time since last March, and revised upwards inflation forecast to 8 per cent for the fiscal ending this month, from earlier prediction of 7 per cent.
Similarly, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty lost 72.95 points, or 1.34 per cent to 5,373.70, after hitting a low of 5,366.40 points during the session.
Brokers said rising crude oil prices in global markets due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East worried investors. However, higher closings on Asian bourses checked further losses.
Besides, a significant fall in the heaviest-weighed Reliance Industries (RIL) had a bearish impact on the sentiments, they added. It fell 3.71 per cent.
The BSE oil and gas sector index suffered the most by losing 2.67 per cent to 9,688.38, with RIL shares plummeting to Rs 993.15. ONGC lost 1.03 per cent to Rs 269.85.
Bharat Heavy Electricals, the biggest power-equipment maker, declined 2.01 per cent to Rs 1,925.65. The largest mortgage lender HDFC fell 2.57 per cent to Rs 620.95.
The IT sector index lost 1.36 per cent to 5,999.97 as bellwether Infosys Technologies declined 1.33 per cent to Rs 2,941.55, and TCS Ltd by 1.56 per cent to Rs 1082.40.
The Auto sector index fell 2.01 per cent to 8485.30 with Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra and Mahindra, Bajaj Auto and Hero Honda ending lower.
The metal sector index also ended in the negative zone with fall of 0.12 per cent to 15,275.23.
As selling pressure picked up, the smallcap index also fell 0.78 per cent to 7,797.80 and midcap index by 0.43 per cent to 6,509.68.
toi
The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark index Sensex, dipped 271.06 points to close at 17,878.81 after touching the day's low of 17,849.53, with investors selling oil and gas, auto, realty and banking stocks.
The gauge had lost 208.82 Points yesterday after the Reserve Bank increased key rates for the eighth time since last March, and revised upwards inflation forecast to 8 per cent for the fiscal ending this month, from earlier prediction of 7 per cent.
Similarly, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty lost 72.95 points, or 1.34 per cent to 5,373.70, after hitting a low of 5,366.40 points during the session.
Brokers said rising crude oil prices in global markets due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East worried investors. However, higher closings on Asian bourses checked further losses.
Besides, a significant fall in the heaviest-weighed Reliance Industries (RIL) had a bearish impact on the sentiments, they added. It fell 3.71 per cent.
The BSE oil and gas sector index suffered the most by losing 2.67 per cent to 9,688.38, with RIL shares plummeting to Rs 993.15. ONGC lost 1.03 per cent to Rs 269.85.
Bharat Heavy Electricals, the biggest power-equipment maker, declined 2.01 per cent to Rs 1,925.65. The largest mortgage lender HDFC fell 2.57 per cent to Rs 620.95.
The IT sector index lost 1.36 per cent to 5,999.97 as bellwether Infosys Technologies declined 1.33 per cent to Rs 2,941.55, and TCS Ltd by 1.56 per cent to Rs 1082.40.
The Auto sector index fell 2.01 per cent to 8485.30 with Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra and Mahindra, Bajaj Auto and Hero Honda ending lower.
The metal sector index also ended in the negative zone with fall of 0.12 per cent to 15,275.23.
As selling pressure picked up, the smallcap index also fell 0.78 per cent to 7,797.80 and midcap index by 0.43 per cent to 6,509.68.
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