Uttrakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat recently marked the first anniversary of his government on a grand scale. In large advertisements in newspapers and lengthy television commercials, the Rawat government claimed that a lot has already been achieved in the past one year. The government has also presented its first complete budget of Rs 45,000 crore (approx). Amid all the pomp and show, it still needs to be checked how much the 56 MLA-strong Rawat government has actually delivered on ground. The assembly elections held in 2017 saw the Bharatiya Janata party return to power with a thumping majority, decimating the Congress which was limited to 11 out of 70 seats. The Congress tally reduced by 21 seats while the BJP gained 26. The stakes were obviously high for the BJP and for Trivendra Singh Rawat who took charge at the helm of affairs in Uttarakhand, a state that has traditionally voted for an alternate party to power in each election. As Rawat government completes one year in office, the Chief Minister has his hands full. And the first-time Chief Minister says he isnt shying away from any of it. In an exclusive conversation with Financialexpress.com, the Uttarakhand CM said…
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BJP ministers in J&K asked to resign; reshuffle on cards in 2-year-old Mehbooba Mufti cabinet
The BJP today asked all its nine ministers in Jammu and Kashmir to submit their resignations to enable the party to bring in new faces in the two-year-old Mehbooba Mufti cabinet, party leaders said here today. The BJP has been under pressure ever since two of its ministers – Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga – took part in a rally in support of those accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua. The two ministers subsequently resigned. The BJP leaders said the party wants to bring in new faces in the cabinet and work for the people of the state. The state can have a maximum of 25 ministers, including the chief minister, out of which 14 portfolios are with the PDP and the remaining with the BJP. According to top state government sources, the reshuffle is likely to take place on April 20. The decision follows hectic parleys between senior BJP leader Avinash Khanna and party legislators, the sources said.
Chopper carrying Kamal Nath loses way in Madhya Pradesh, lands safely after 40 minutes
A helicopter carrying senior Congress leader Kamal Nath from Chhindwara to Jhoteshwar in Narsinghpur district in Madhya Pradesh lost its way this morning, delaying its landing at the destination by 40 minutes, an official said. The chopper was scheduled to land at Jhoteshwar at 10.30 am. But the pilot wrongly landed it in a field at Kodsa village near Kareli tehsil after losing the flight path. It finally reached the destination at 11.10 am. Nath, accompanied by former Union minister Suresh Pachouri, was heading to Jhoteshwar to seek the blessings of Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati. Former Union minister Kamal Nath was scheduled to reach Jhoteshwar by a chopper at 10.30 am. But the pilot lost direction causing a delay in landing. It finally reached the venue around 11.10 am, Narsinghpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Monika Shukla told PTI over phone. According to eyewitnesses, Naths helicopter landed in a field at Kodsa village in Narsinghpur district. Later, he realised that he had landed at a wrong place and immediately took off for Jhoteshwar in Gotegaon area. Later, the two senior Congress leaders sought the blessings of Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati and also offered prayers at the famous Tripur Sundari temple. Three…
Politicos criticise Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Syria remark over Ram Mandir issue
Sri Sri Ravi Shankars Syria remark over Ram temple issue on Monday was slammed by the leaders from different political parties, calling it provocative. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar should refrain from giving out such provocative statements, senior Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi told ANI. Echoing the same, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majid Memon termed the Art of Living (AoL) founders remarks sad. I am sad to hear this comment from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji. I did not expect him to give a statement that could increase violence, said Memon. He further questioned the reason behind Ravi Shankars intervention, I would also very respectfully like to ask that the intervention you are doing, where were you from the past 25 years? He is coming out and talking about the issue just when the time when the Supreme Court is about to announce its decision. Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit called the AOLs statement a good entertainment value. On Monday, the Art of Living founder, in an interview with a leading television channel, had said that any delay in resolving the Ram temple issue could result in a Syria-like situation in India. If the Ram Mandir issue is not…
In Rahul Gandhi’s congratulatory tweet for IAS couple Tina Dabi and Athar Aamir, a mention of intolerance, communal hatred
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today congratulated the recently wed IAS couple Tina Dabi and Athar Amir Khan. Gandhi gave his best wishes to the happy couple and wished for their love to grow in this age of growing intolerance. He shared a post saying, Congratulations Tina Dabi Athar Amir-ul-Shafi, IAS toppers, batch of 2015, on your wedding! May your love grow from strength to strength and may you be an inspiration to all Indians in this age of growing intolerance and communal hatred. God bless you. The 2015 IAS topper also shared a post on her marriage and wrote, I Athar and I got married on 20th March in Jaipur by Collector Shri Siddharth Mahajan. Then we planned two wedding celebrations. The Kashmir celebration happened recently. The Delhi wedding celebration will be held on 14th April. Rahul Gandhis tweet| Congratulations Tina Dabi Athar Amir-ul-Shafi, IAS toppers, batch of 2015, on your wedding! May your love grow from strength to strength and may you be an inspiration to all Indians in this age of growing intolerance and communal hatred. God bless you. According to reports, the Kashmir celebration of the happy couple took place in the Kashmir valleys Pahalgam area on…
Fugitive LeT commander embraces Hizbul Mujahideen militants in a recent video
Shortly after Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander, Jat alias Abu Hanzulla escaped police custody, a video featuring him along with local Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander and five other militants has surfaced recently. Though nothing has been zeroed on the location of the video but as per sources, Jat had escaped to South of Kashmir where he is believed to have been active. Because of his Director General of Police, SP Vaid said that HM and Lashkar might have collaborated. The police is of the opinion that Jat has joined HM since LeT has not named a commander since the death of commanders Abu Qasim, Abu Dujana and Abu Ismail. Police suspect Jat to be named as the next LeT commander which is why his escape was planned. Two Jammu and Kashmir police personnel accompanying Jat to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital were killed after militants opened fire inside the hospital on February 6. This helped him escape from the clutches of the police. Since then, NIA has taken over the investigation. The video which emerged on Friday shows him embracing wanted militant HM commander Sameer Tiger and five other armed men. Though the police tracked down Jat to Kakapora in Pulwama shortly…
Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia begins indefinite fast
Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia began his indefinite fast here today in support of his demands, including construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The 62-year-old Hindutva leader, who quit the post of VHP International Working President last week after his nominee Raghav Reddy lost a key organisational poll, launched the fast outside the state VHP headquarters in the Paldi area after 12 pm with some Hindu saints and supporters. Togadia had earlier said his hunger strike would be aimed at the welfare of Hindus and to draw attention to his demands. These included construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya, a nation-wide ban on cow slaughter, enforcement of the common civil code and resettlement of displaced Kashmiri Pandits. The surgeon-turned-firebrand leader had launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he quit the VHP, a right-wing outfit with which he had been associated with for decades. Earlier, Togadia was to sit on fast at GMDC Ground, but the police denied permission after which the venue was earlier today shifted to outside the VHP headquarters. We were denied permission by the police to go ahead with fast at GMDC Ground so we had to change the venue (located…
West Bengal Panchayat election 2018: Fresh violence reported in Asansol, Birbhum; one killed in clash
West Bengal Panchayat election 2018: The incidents of poll-related violence is nowhere near stop in West Bengal. Fresh incidents of poll-related violence were reported on Monday from Asansol and Birbhum after an independent candidate was allegedly attacked in front of the BDO office for filing nomination. The ruling Trinamool Congress has denied any involvement in the incident. One person is reported to have died in a clash between TMC and BJP supporters in Birbhums 1, ANI reported Earlier, the Calcutta High Court cancelled the state election commissionThe high court also asked the commission to issue the extension of filing of nomination for panchayat polls. As per court, the stay that was issued on April 12 on panchayat process will be lifted after the commission issues fresh notification for nominations of papers. The single bench of Justice Subrata Talukdar, while hearing the plea, asked the commission to reschedule the election dates. The panchayat polls in the state were scheduled to be held on May 1, 3 and 5 while the counting of votes was to be held on May 8. The high court has quashed the state election commission Today the court has asked the state election commission to extend the…
BBC apologises for mixing up PM Narendra Modi with Sri Lankan President – What British Broadcasting Corporation did?
The BBC today apologised for mistakenly referring to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a live news broadcast of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) last night. The Sri Lankan President was seen disembarking from his car at the entrance of Buckingham Palace to join the other heads of government for the CHOGM launch hosted by Queen Elizabeth II when the BBC host said Modi, the Prime Minister of India since May 2014 arriving at Buckingham Palace. This was a mistake made during a live broadcast and we apologise for our error, a BBC spokesperson said. According to reports, the news presenter on duty was given incorrect information which she went out to read out on air. This is not the first time the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) finds itself in this embarrassing position. In December last year, the public broadcaster aired clips from the 1976 box-office hit Kabhi Kabhie with actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor in song sequences when referencing the death of actor Shashi Kapoor. BBC News at Ten is very sorry wrong images were used to mark the death of Shashi Kapoor. Not our usual standards and I apologise…
Need to raise ‘army’ of people to bust fake news: Panel at Express Thinc
At a time when a fake news can travel the world literally at the click of a button, India needs better media literacy and awareness on the phenomena. A panel of experts at The Indian Express Thinc on Wednesday discussed the need for a dedicated The panel comprised co-founder of Altnews.in, Pratik Sinha; director general of the Indian Institute of Mass Communications, KG Suresh; managing editor of Boom, Jency Jacob; South Asia bureau chief of The Washington Post, Annie Gowen; and contributing editor of Business Standard, Vanita Kohli Khandekar. Opening the conversation on Such stories, he said, go viral depending on how But all such stories do feed into the He said while mobile penetration had brought a larger number of sources of information to an increasing number of people, especially in rural areas, they have not been Pointing out the increasing He said the problem is not just outside the industry, but even within. Journalists On how political parties use Comparing the crisis of fake news in India with the West, Gowen said in the Western countries people were So, there is more Citing the example of content creators in Macedonia, who produced fake narratives during the American presidential…
Lax Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government lost Rs 67 crore, says CAG report
Lack of timely and effective action by the Rural Develpoment department regarding land lease allotment to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi resulted in non-recovery of around Rs 67 crore, a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) tabled in the Delhi assembly by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said. According to the report, the Urban Development department lacked effective planning and coordination in developing Delhi road Network in a phased manner to cope up with increasing vehicle population. The compliance audit alo mentioned that 88 units of the department of trade and taxes, state excise, transport and revenue conducted during the year 2016-17 revealed under assessment, short levy, loss of revenue and other irregularities involving Rs 416 crore in 650 cases. Sisodia assured of action against those found guilty by the government auditor. Strict action will be taken against officers, even Ministers or any other found guilty, he said.
Pakistan seeks inspection by its officials of India’s Indus river basin projects
Pakistan has asked India to allow its officials to undertake a tour for inspecting Indian projects in the Indus river basin, which New Delhi said will be arranged in line with the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), according to government sources. Pakistan made the request during the two-day meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) between the two countries here. The last time a Pakistani team of officials visited the Indus river basin in India was in 2014. The sources said both the countries stuck to their respective positions over Indias two hydropower projects Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai, both in Jammu and Kashmir, during the 114th PIC meet. Pakistan has been raising objections over the designs of Pakal Dul (1000 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW) projects – located in the Chenab basin in Jammu and Kashmir – contending that they violate the IWT, signed in 1960. On the other hand, India has been maintaining that the designs of the projects are very much in line with the provisions of the water sharing pact. The sources maintained that the discussions took place in a Indias Indus water commissioner P K Saxena, technical experts and a representative of…
Low intensity earthquake jolts Jammu and Kashmir; epicentre in Punjab’s Amritsar district
A low-intensity earthquake jolted Jammu and Kashmir on Monday although there were no reports of casualties or any damage. A state disaster management department official said: An earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale occurred at 6.06 a.m. on Monday. The epicentre of the quake was in Punjabs Amritsar district.
Won’t stake claim to ownership of Taj Mahal, says Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board
The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it wont stake claim to the ownership of the Taj Mahal. The board said that the Taj Mahal is owned by the Almighty but must be listed as property of the Sunni Waqf Board for practical purposes. The bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud told senior counsel ADN Rao appearing for the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) that once the board pressed its right over the monument, then it has to adjudicate the issue. Once you have registered the monument as a Waqf property, your statement that you will not be staking claim will not help, said the bench and posted the matter for hearing on July 27. In the last hearing, the apex court had asked the Waqf Board to back its claim on the 17th century monument by producing ownership documents signed by Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who commissioned the Taj Mahal. The board reportedly told the court on Wednesday that it has no such documents signed by the descendants of Shah Jahan and added that it is a Waqf Board property because it is allowed to…
Home Minister Rajnath Singh tears into Pakistan, alleges conspiracy to break India
In a thinly-veiled reference to Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the neighbouring country is conspiring to break India apart with the help of terrorism. Observing that the country continues to pursue terrorism, Singh said that some day, Pakistan would have to concede to the global pressure. Singh also said that Pakistan is making it difficult for India to maintain good relations even though India wants it. We always want to maintain good relations with our neighbouring countries. We consider all our neighbours our relatives. However, one of them doesnt listen. But they will have to listen some day. All international forces are putting pressure on them, international agencies are trying their best to convince them to boycott terrorism. Singh said while addressing a gathering here. He also lauded the Indian armed forces for successfully keeping the terrorists at bay, Being our neighbour, they are conspiring to break our country with the help of terrorism. We are proud of our security forces as they are perfectly retaliating to the terror attacks. The Home Minister was in Dadra Nagar Haveli to inaugurate a number of development projects. At the event, he also announced that Centre will be presenting a fugitive…
AIADMK for no-trust move against NDA Government, says party leader M Thambidurai
In what appears to be a bid to shift the political onus on DMK on the Cauvery issue, senior AIADMK leader M Thambidurai today said his party would consider moving a no-trust motion in Parliament against the NDA Stalin says AIADMK should bring a no-trust motion (on Cauvery issue). We are ready to bring it, he told reporters at the airport. In the same breath, the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker said Congress support was needed to facilitate such an initiative. Let Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi issue a statement (indicating support), they (DMK) are in alliance with them (Congress). only if they (Congress) support, we will get the (requisite) numbers, he said. Seeking to make his partys position clear,Thambidruai, a senior AIADMK leader from Western Tamil Nadu, said such a no-trust move would however be only for the Cauvery issue. Only on the Cauvery issue. not for any other general issue. To urge constitution of the Cauvery Management Board, and since the Centre has failed to do that, we will consider that if other parties like Congress support it. Thambidurai said Tamil Nadus demand seeking setting up of Cauvery Management Board should become a peoples movement in the state just…
Meghalaya gets Conrad Sangma as 12th CM, check full list of ministers
After the assembly election result of Meghalaya threw a fractured mandate, with the Congress (21 seats) and National Peoples The BJP along with NPP, its ally at the centre and in Manipur, formed a government in the state today. The chief of NPP, Conrad Sangma was sworn in as the 12th Chief Minister of the state today. Union Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter and congratulated Conrad Sangma asserting that Sangma will bring back the state on the development track. Along with Rajnath Singh, BJP chief Amit Shah was also present in his oath ceremony. On the other hand, the Congress, which has been in power in the state for the last ten years, wasnt able to secure alliances despite emerging as the single-largest party in the elections. The parties which came together to form the government are – NPP, UDP, PDF, BJP, and HSPDP. The parties will collectively be called Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA). Notably, the council of ministers to the chief ministers will have representations from each of these parties. The newly announced cabinet includes 4 from NPP, 3 from UDP, 2 from PDF and one each from BJP and HSPDP. Here are the 12 MLAs who were…
BJP’s reputation on the line? PM Modi under fire as $2 billion PNB fraud hits anti-graft image
Shortly after a $2 billion bank fraud was uncovered last month at India The photo showed Modi posing at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan. 23 with a large business delegation that included billionaire jeweler Nirav Modi, who is at the center of the unfolding scandal. That was enough for opponents and even one of Modi Government officials said the jeweler was just part of a separate, non-official business delegation, and that the prime minister had only stopped by for a photo. Still, the scandal may already be having an impact: On March 14, Modi While investigations continue into India Riding to power on a pledge to unearth unaccounted wealth, Modi justified a move to ban 86 percent of the country This case could well deliver a blow to the Modi administrationC. The government Nirav Modi, who The bank alleges the duo and their associates worked with some rogue employees and used fake guarantees to obtain loans from abroad. Both deny the allegations. Though Nirav Modi shares the same surname as the prime minister, the two aren In addition to the photo, critics are also looking to undermine the government with a video from 2015 of the prime…
Here’s Narendra Modi’s answer to Manmohan Singh on Kathua, Unnao rape cases
A day after ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked his successor to speak up more often, PM Narendra Modi talked about the rape incidents in the country during his visit to the United Kingdom. In an interview to The Indian Express, Singh had taken a swipe at Modi, saying the current PM should follow his own advice and speak up more. But I think the Prime Minister should follow his own advice to me and he should speak more often. Through press (reports) I know that he used to criticize me for not speaking up. I feel that the advice that he used to give me, he should follow it himself, Singh told IE. The senior Congress leader had made this remark while reacting to Modis long silence over Kathua and Unnao rape cases. In Kathua an eight-year-old girl was raped and murdered, while in Unnao, a teenager was allegedly raped by a BJP MLA, who has now been arrested. Modi had broken his silence over the rape incidents at an even in Delhi while commemorating the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar on April 14. The prime minister had said the daughters of India would get justice. On Wednesday, Modi…
BJP government betraying backward students: Disgruntled UP minister embarrasses Yogi Adityanath govt
A day after a UP minister heaped praise on BSP supremo Mayawati and then retracted it, another Cabinet member embarrassed the Yogi Adityanath government by accusing it of betraying backward class students. I am ready to quit the government any time, if I am asked to do so, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader and Uttar Pradesh backward class welfare minister Om Prakash Rajbhar told PTI today. The BJP ally complained that the students were not getting the scholarships meant for them. There is a lot of hue and cry in the entire state over scholarships and fee reimbursement of backward class students, The state government is betraying them. Of the 26 lakh backward class students, about 11 lakh have not benefited till now, the minister said. Rajbhar had recently kept Bharatiya Janata Party on tenterhooks over his support for a candidate in Rajya Sabha polls. Asked whether his SBSP will continue its alliance with BJP till 2019, Rajbhar said, We have formed an alliance till 2024. If BJP says it does not need us, I will immediately return them my ministerial post. The minister said the state has a budget of Rs 3,000 crore for scholarships. But only Rs…
KCR meets MK Stalin, more regional biggies on agenda: Why idea of non-Congress, non-BJP front is still far-fetched
With the general elections inching closer, buzz around all regional political parties coming together to form a non-Congress and non-BJP front appears to be gaining momentum. On Sunday, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao called on DMK president M Karunanidhi and partys working president MK Stalin in Chennai to discuss the current state of political affairs in the country. According to media reports, KCR is also expected to meet Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, JD(S) president HD Deve Gowda, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav and JMM leader Hemant Soren to gather support to form a federal front. KCR, who has been trying to forge a front against the Congress and BJP, said that there will soon be a federal front but ruled out any urgency in forming it. He, however, said that he is neither saying that the parties should go with the Congress nor leave it. He said that as of now, nothing like this has been suggested within the proposed front. He said that after holding discussions for the next two-three months, the parties will reach a consensus on what needs to done. He also said that he will approach his Andhra Pradesh…
Bihar bypolls: With Nitish Kumar in shadows, real fight is between BJP and RJD
Much is at stake at Sundays by-elections to three Bihar seats – one Lok Sabha and two assembly seats – for both ruling BJP-led NDA and opposition Grand Alliance comprising RJD, Congress and HAM-S, barely a year ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Both National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Grand Alliance are using the bypolls as an opportunity to prove their superiority over the other in terms of popularity among the masses. While the NDA leaders are confident that they will win all the three seats, the Grand Alliance leaders have repeatedly claimed to pull out victory even in the absence of their star campaigner and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad – behind bars in connection with two fodder scam cases. The by-elections are set to see direct contests between the NDA led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Grand Alliance, which got its third constituent in the Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) of Jitan Ram Manjhi, who quit the NDA to switch sides. The bypolls to Jehanabad and Bhabua assembly seats are being held following the death of sitting legislators from the RJD and the BJP, respectively. The Araria Lok Sabha seat became vacant after the…
Cauvery water dispute: Tamil Nadu to appeal in Supreme Court as six-week deadline ends, state BJP backs CM Palaniswami
Cauvery water dispute, which has remained a bone of contention between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, has escalated once again. As the protests spread to different parts of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister K Palaniswami held discussions with his senior ministers. The protests erupted over of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) even as six-week deadline given by the Supreme Court to the Centre to formulate a scheme ended yesterday. It has been learnt that Tamil Nadu will again knock the doors of the apex court citing the governments failure to form Cauvery Management Board. BJPs stance on the issue BJP, which wants to make inroads in Tamil Nadu, has said the state unit will support any step taken by the state government on Cauvery. Rejecting criticism, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan has said, The central government is not having the forthcoming Karnataka state assembly polls in mind on the Cauvery Management board issue Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasans take on the issue Superstar Rajinikanth, who has announced his political plunge, had pitched for setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). On the Cauvery issue. setting up of CMB will be the only acceptable just solution for us. I sincerely hope justice will prevail,…
Narendra Modi speech in Rajya Sabha Highlights: PM bids farewell to retiring Upper House members; here’s what he said
Narendra Modi speech in Rajya Sabha LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today bid farewell to retiring members of the Rajya Sabha. He said the country cannot forget the service of the retiring members.On Tuesday, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu had felicitated MPs retiring from the Upper House at an event in New Delhi. Naidu conveyed his wishes for the better future of the retiring members, saying, They are retiring but not tiring. PM Modi had also said that the parliamentary experience of the retiring members will help help them in development of the society. – Modi says that would have been good if MPs could have been a part of historic upcoming bills like the Triple Talaq Bill. – Modi said that all those who are retiring from the house (Rajya Sabha) today have their own significance and each of them tried their best to contribute to the glorious future of this country. I wish you success in future Modi said in Rajya Sabha Watch | PM Modi bids farewell to retiring members of Rajya Sabha – Modi says his own office will always be open for outgoing MPs: Unfortunately, you will not be a part of Parliament when the…
India-Pakistan Diplomatic Crisis: Here is the story so far – Top 10 Developments
India-Pakistan Diplomatic Crisis: The bilateral relations between India and Pakistan stooped to a new low after the two sides traded charges of harassing diplomats against each other. In the latest development on the issue, Islamabad, today, called back its High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood for consultations after alleged incidents of harassment of its diplomatic staff in New Delhi. Pakistani media reports claimed that the envoy has been called back home for an unspecified time. It has been over a week since the two sides have been at loggerheads over the issue of harassment of diplomats. While Islamabad complained that its diplomats were being subjected to different kinds of harassment in India, New Delhi, on the other hand, alleged that several Indian mission staffers in Islamabad have been severely India-Pakistan Diplomatic Crisis: Here is what happened so far:- 1. Prior to the diplomatic tussle The gunfight on the border had also escalated tensions between the two countries. 2. Pakistans complain – On March 11, Pakistan lodged four harassment charges with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), alleging incidents of harassment and intimidation of its diplomats in New Delhi. Pakistan High Commission alleged that their diplomats and the families of the…
Bollywood movies in China! Xi Jinping wants screening of more Indian films
Chinese President Xi Jinping has seen a number of Indian films, including Hindi and regional, and believes it would be a good idea that Bollywood movies come to China and vice-versa. Briefing reporters at the end of the two-day informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi in the central Chinese city, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said they proposed collaboration in the areas of spirituality, trade, technology, tradition and entertainment including films. President Xi said that he had seen a number of Indian films, both Bollywood and regional, and that it would be a good idea that more Indian films come to China and more Chinese films go to India, Gokhale said. Modi and Xi were seen enjoying an instrumental rendition of 1982 Bollywood superhit song Tu, tu hai wahi dil ne jise apna kaha, from movie Yeh Vaada Raha by Chinese artists here yesterday. Xi had told Modi last year that he had watched Bollywood star Amir Khans Dangal movie and liked it. Dangal was a super hit in China and broke several records in the Chinese movie industry and raked in over Rs 1,100 crore. Ahead of the Wuhan summit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying…
PM Narendra Modi coins new acronym ‘STRENGTH’ to underscore importance of people-to-people contact
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today coined a new acronym STRENGTH to underscore the importance of people-to-people contact between India and China. During his delegation-level talks as part of an unprecedented informal summit with President Xi Jinping in the central Chinese city, Modi hailed the centuries old Sino-India ties and said people-to-people contact should be promoted. Modi underscored the importance of people-to-people contact through STRENGTH : S-Spirituality; T-Tradition, Trade and Technology; R-Relationship; E-Entertainment (Movies, Art, Dances etc.); N-Nature conservation; G-Games; T-Tourism and H- Health and Healing. He said India and China have the responsibility to work for 40 per cent of the world population and the two sides have a big opportunity to work together for the benefit of their people and the world. This is the fourth visit of Modi to China after he came to power in 2014. He is again due to visit China to take part in the SCO summit to be held at Qingdao city on June 9-10.
India, Pakistan agree to resolve through talks all issues about treatment of diplomats
India and Pakistan today announced they have agreed to mutually resolve all issues about the treatment of diplomats. The agreement follows claims and counter-claims by the two countries about harassment of each others diplomats. India and Pakistan have mutually agreed to resolve matters related to the treatment of diplomats and diplomatic premises, in line with the 1992 Code of Conduct for treatment of Diplomatic\/Consular personnel in India and Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. A similar statement was issued by Pakistan Foreign Office also. The Code provides for smooth and unhindered functioning of the diplomatic and consular officials of the two countries in conformity with the international laws without violating their privileges and immunities. The Code also says that the two countries should not resort to intrusive and aggressive surveillance and actions such as verbal and physical harassment, disconnection of phone lines, etc. Earlier this month, India had asked Pakistan to ensure safety and security of its officials working at the Indian mission in Islamabad, saying they continue to face harassment and intimidation. In its 16th Note Verbale to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry on March 22, the Indian High Commission specifically mentioned three incidents of harassment…
Punjab: Asthma cases on the rise among children due to stubble burning, pollution
Incidences of asthma are rising among children in the state of Punjab. Speaking to ANI, Dr Puneet Aulakh Pooni said, Harvesting season is here and hence the number of patients have increased three to four times. The doctor also advised wearing mask as a precaution. The northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi greatly suffer from pollution and the harvesting season especially increases the health hazards following the stubble burning. On a related note, eight to ten percent children suffer from asthma in India.
PM Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping to undertake joint India-China economic project in Afghanistan; how this move can upset Pakistan
In a move that could upset Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to undertake a joint India-China economic project in Afghanistan at their first informal summit here, official sources said. The understanding was reached between the two leaders during the two-day informal summit which concluded today, they said. As per the understanding, officials of both sides will identify the project in following up discussions and work out modalities. This will be a first such project in the war-torn country where China while trying to expand its influence has tacitly backed Pakistan, which has been accused by Afghanistan and the US of backing the Taliban and its most violent attacks in the country destabilising any attempts to restore peace. China for the first time held a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan in December last in Beijing to narrow down the differences between the two countries. China had also announced plans to extend its controversial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan at the meeting.