
Govt should give compensation, must fix accountability: Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that the Central government should fix accountability for the tragic crash of the Air India AI-171 flight on Thursday while emphasising that 'we should wait' until the details from the black box emerge before fixing responsibility.
Kharge was speaking to reporters after meeting injured persons at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and said that the Centre must give compensation to the next of kin of the deceased and to the injured.
Kharge also visited the site of the crash along with senior Congress leaders Shaktisinh Gohil and Mukul Wasnik.
Asked who he thinks is responsible for the incident, Kharge said that people should wait for the details and analysis from the back box to come out. 'On the spot, blaming someone is not right… in such times when people are still grieving… We will seek an inquiry too based on the findings of the black box. I don't think it is right to blame anyone before that,' said Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.
Kharge also paid tributes to the deceased and said that the 'very big accident' in Ahmedabad 'can never be forgotten'. 'In such a time of crisis, it doesn't suit someone to say that these things happen. We should support the people. Our Congress leaders have been assisting people for the last three to four days,' he said.

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Business Standard
28 minutes ago
- Business Standard
US-China trade truce likely leaves military-use rare earth issue unresolved
The renewed US-China trade truce struck in London left a key area of export restrictions tied to national security untouched, an unresolved conflict that threatens a more comprehensive deal, two people briefed on detailed outcomes of the talks told Reuters. Beijing has not committed to grant export clearance for some specialised rare-earth magnets that US military suppliers need for fighter jets and missile systems, the people said. The United States maintains export curbs on China's purchases of advanced artificial intelligence chips out of concern that they also have military applications. At talks in London last week, China's negotiators appeared to link progress in lifting export controls on military-use rare earth magnets with the longstanding US curbs on exports of the most advanced AI chips to China. That marked a new twist in trade talks that began with opioid trafficking, tariff rates and China's trade surplus, but have since shifted to focus on export controls. In addition, US officials also signalled they are looking to extend existing tariffs on China for a further 90 days beyond the August 10 deadline agreed in Geneva last month, both sources said, suggesting a more permanent trade deal between the world's two largest economies is unlikely before then. The two people who spoke to Reuters about the London talks requested not to be named because both sides have tightly controlled disclosure. The White House, State Department and Department of Commerce did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China's Foreign and Commerce ministries did not respond to faxed requests for comment. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the handshake deal reached in London between American and Chinese negotiators was a "great deal," adding, "we have everything we need, and we're going to do very well with it. And hopefully they are too." And US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there would be no "quid pro quo" on easing curbs on exports of AI chips to China in exchange for access to rare earths. CHINA CHOKEHOLD But China's chokehold on the rare earth magnets needed for weapons systems remains a potential flashpoint. China dominates global production of rare earths and holds a virtual monopoly on refining and processing. A deal reached in Geneva last month to reduce bilateral tariffs from crushing triple-digit levels had faltered over Beijing's restrictions on critical minerals exports that took shape in April. That prompted the Trump administration to respond with export controls preventing shipments of semiconductor design software, jet engines for Chinese-made planes and other goods to China. At the London talks, China promised to fast-track approval of rare-earth export applications from non-military US manufacturers out of the tens of thousands currently pending, one of the sources said. Those licenses will have a six-month term. Beijing also offered to set up a "green channel" for expediting license approvals from trusted US companies. Initial signals were positive, with Chinese rare-earths magnet producer JL MAG Rare-Earth, saying on Wednesday it had obtained export licences that included the United States, while China's Commerce Ministry confirmed it had approved some "compliant applications" for export licences. But China has not budged on specialized rare earths, including samarium, which are needed for military applications and are outside the fast-track agreed in London, the two people said. Automakers and other manufacturers largely need other rare earth magnets, including dysprosium and terbium. BIG ISSUES REMAIN The rushed trade meeting in London followed a call last week between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump said US tariffs would be set at 55% for China, while China had agreed to 10% from the United States. Trump initially imposed tariffs on China as punishment for its massive trade surplus to the United States and over what he says is Beijing's failure to stem the flow of the powerful opioid fentanyl into the US. Chinese analysts are pessimistic about the likelihood of further breakthroughs before the August 10 deadline agreed in Geneva. "Temporary mutual accommodation of some concerns is possible but the fundamental issue of the trade imbalance cannot be resolved within this timeframe, and possibly during Trump's remaining term," said Liu Weidong, a US-China expert at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. An extension of the August deadline could allow the Trump administration more time to establish an alternative legal claim for setting higher tariffs on China under the Section 301 authority of the USTR in case Trump loses the ongoing legal challenge to the tariffs in US court, one of the people with knowledge of the London talks said. The unresolved issues underscore the difficulty the Trump administration faces in pushing its trade agenda with China because of Beijing's control of rare earths and its willingness to use that as leverage with Washington, said Ryan Hass, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution. "It has taken the Trump team a few punches in the nose to recognise that they will no longer be able to secure another trade agreement with China that disproportionately addresses Trump's priorities," Hass said.


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Air India plane crash: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani's body identified
Ahmedabad: DNA testing has confirmed the death of former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani in the June 12 Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, a senior government official aware of the matter said on Sunday. 'His (Rupani's) DNA sample was matched a few minutes ago,' the official said while speaking on condition of anonymity. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into a medical college hostel in Meghaninagar on June 12, moments after takeoff. The disaster claimed 241 lives, including 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, as the sole survivor with minor injuries. The crash also killed several medical students and other people on the ground, as the plane ignited a massive fireball. Rupani, 68, was traveling to visit his daughter in London. To identify victims, forensic teams are conducting extensive DNA sampling at a dedicated facility in Ahmedabad. Relatives of passengers, including Rupani's family, have provided samples, which were matched with remains recovered from the wreckage. The process, ongoing round-the-clock, is challenging due to the crash's intensity, requiring meticulous analysis to ensure accurate identification. Rupani's final rites will be held in his hometown in Rajkot. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the site, said, 'Vijaybhai's leadership transformed Gujarat; his loss is profound.' Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel said, 'Rupani's vision and crisis leadership were unparalleled. Gujarat grieves deeply.' Air India and Tata Group announced ₹1 crore compensation for victims' families and ₹25 lakh interim payments. In Rajkot, Rupani's hometown, preparations for his final rites are underway. Medical superintendent of Civil Hospital Dr. Rajnish Patel told reporters today that a total of 31 DNAs have been identified so far and 12 bodies have been handed over to their respective family members.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Gujarat ex-CM Vijay Rupani's remains identified after plane crash
NEW DELHI: The DNA of former Gujarat chief minister has been matched with remains recovered from the wreckage of Air India Flight AI171, which crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Gujarat health minister Rushikesh Patel confirmed the development on Sunday, saying the authorities were in contact with the Rupani family to facilitate the handover of the mortal remains. 'The DNA matching of Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister, is complete. We will coordinate with the family to take the body to Rajkot,' he told reporters. Rupani was among the 242 people on board the London-bound flight, which went down shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. His son had arrived in Ahmedabad on Saturday to provide a blood sample for the DNA identification process, which was being conducted at BJ Medical College. Rajkot observes shutdown for Rupani The city of Rajkot in Gujarat observed a half-day shutdown on Saturday to pay tribute to Rupani. Rupani, a senior BJP leader and native of Rajkot, served as Gujarat's chief minister from 2016 to 2021. He was also twice elected as MLA from the Rajkot West constituency, having started his political journey as a party worker before becoming councillor and mayor. At the time of his death, he was serving as the BJP's in-charge for Punjab. In a show of collective mourning, the Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry had appealed on Friday for shops and commercial establishments to remain closed until Saturday afternoon. The call was widely honoured, with markets shut and nearly 600 private and grant-in-aid schools remaining closed during the morning hours.