India, South Korea sign 11 agreements
New Delhi, July 10 : India and South Korea signed 11 agreements, including in the areas of trade, cultural and scientific and technological cooperation, during the visit of South Korean President Moon Jae-in to India.
The two sides signed a joint statement on Early Harvest Package of the upgraded Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the External Affairs Ministry said on Tuesday.
The Early Harvest facilitate ongoing negotiations on upgrading the India-South Korea CEPA, that came into operation in 2010, by identifying key areas for trade liberalisation.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed that is aimed at anti-dumping, subsidy, countervailing and safeguard measures through consultations and exchange of information through establishment of a cooperation committee comprising government officials and domain experts.
Another MoU was signed for the formation of a Future Strategy Group for cooperation in development of cutting edge technologies for commercialization to reap benefits of the 4th Industrial revolution.
Thrust areas include Internet of Things (IOT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Smart Factory, 3D printing, electric vehicles, advance materials and affordable healthcare for the elderly and disabled.
A cultural exchange programme for the period 2018-2022 was signed to deepen cultural and people-to-people relations by providing for institutionalised cooperation in fields of music and dance, theatre, art exhibitions, archives, anthropology, mass media programmes and museum exhibits.
An MoU was signed on similar lines to to facilitate upgrade and expansion of the existing monument in Ayodhya commemorating Princess Suriratna (Queen Hur Hwang-ok), a legendary princess of Ayodhya, who went to Korea in 48 A.D. and married King Kim-Suro.
A large number of Koreans trace their ancestry to this legendary princess and new monument will be a tribute to the shared cultural heritage between the two countries.
Other MoUs signed include cooperation in the areas of scientific and technological research, railway research, biotechnology and bio-economics, ICT and telecommunications, and micro, small and medium enterprises.
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Two FIRs lodged against Mithun Chakraborty for 'provocative' speech
Kolkata, Nov 6: Two FIRs have been lodged against actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty for allegedly making provocative statements during a BJP event in Salt Lake area near Kolkata last month, police said on Wednesday.
The complaints pertain to Chakraborty's speech on October 27 at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) in Salt Lake, during a BJP programme attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Kolkata to launch the party's West Bengal membership drive.
The first FIR was filed at the Bidhannagar South police station based on a complaint by an individual, while the second was lodged at Bowbazar police station.
"We have started an investigation into the case," a senior officer of Bidhannagar police said.
Shah was also present at the programme, which was organised to kick off the West Bengal leg of the BJP's membership drive. Shah had also felicitated Chakraborty for being honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award this year.
Although Chakraborty was unavailable for comment, BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar described the FIRs a result of "vendetta politics.".
Majumdar alleged that the TMC government "has once again used the police to unfairly target well-known actor and senior BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty".
He accused the chief minister of employing such tactics "to serve political interests" and claimed that the state government's actions were part of an ongoing attempt to discredit political opponents.
"There is nothing provocative in his speech. These are nothing but attempts to intimidate him by using police as a political tool," he said.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh dubbed the BJP's allegations as baseless.
"The allegations of political vendetta are baseless. He shouldn't have made such provocative remarks. The law will take its own course," he said.
Chakraborty, who received India's highest film honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, earlier this year, had asserted on October 27 that the 'masnad' (throne) of West Bengal would belong to the BJP after the 2026 assembly elections, promising to do whatever it takes to achieve the goal.
While speaking at the programme, Chakraborty, a BJP leader, said, "In 2026, the 'masnad' will be ours, and we will do everything to achieve the goal."
In an apparent reference to TMC MLA Humayun Kabir's communal remarks aimed at BJP workers during the Lok Sabha elections, Chakraborty had allegedly made provocative remarks.
Chakraborty cautioned that no one should attempt to intimidate saffron party voters into abstaining from voting in the next assembly elections.
He called upon the booth-level workers of his party to resist any such attempts.
