This is the first overseas visit of the Bhutanese PM who assumed office in January 2024.

He was received at the airport by Union Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Ashwini Choubey.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal who welcomed the Bhutan PM said that his visit is a testament to the ties of friendship between the two countries.

“Warm welcome to India! PM @tsheringtobgay of Bhutan arrives in New Delhi on his first overseas visit after assuming office in Jan 2024. Received by MoS @AshwiniKChoubeyat the airport. The visit of @PMBhutan is in keeping with the exemplary ties of friendship between India and Bhutan,” Jaiswal said in a post on X.

The Bhutan PM is accompanied by the Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister, Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Industry, Commerce and Employment Minister, and senior officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan.

During his visit to India, Tobgay will call on President Droupadi Murmu and is expected to hold bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other Indian dignitaries will also call on the Prime Minister of Bhutan.

Tobgay is also scheduled to visit Mumbai.

The visit of the Prime Minister of Bhutan will provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the progress in their unique partnership and to discuss ways and means to expand the enduring ties of friendship and cooperation between both nations.

In January, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra paid an official three-day visit to Bhutan during which he called on the Bhutan Prime Minister.

India and Bhutan enjoy exemplary ties of friendship and cooperation, based on trust, goodwill and mutual understanding at all levels.

The tradition of regular political and official exchanges is an important hallmark of the special ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bhutan on his first overseas visit after winning the election in 2014. PM Modi undertook a State visit to Bhutan in August 2019, after assuming office for the second term.

The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck visited India from 14 – 16 September 2022 and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

In April 2023, the King of Bhutan visited Delhi and met the President of India, PM and EAM. A Joint Statement titled “A Framework for Expanded India-Bhutan Partnership” was issued, which reaffirmed the strength of the unique ties while outlining concrete areas to advance the India-Bhutan partnership.

In November 2023, the King again visited India to hold discussions with PM, EAM and FS. The King of Bhutan also made his first official visit to the states of Assam and Maharashtra to expand ties of friendship and cooperation. (ANI)

]]> https://indiapost.com/bhutan-pm-arrives-in-india-for-maiden-overseas-visit-after-assuming-office/feed/ 0 https://indiapost.com/one-nation-one-election-committee-submits-report-to-president-murmu/ https://indiapost.com/one-nation-one-election-committee-submits-report-to-president-murmu/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:50:00 +0000 https://indiapost.com/?p=190782 NEW DELHI: The High-Level Committee on ‘One Nation One Election’ chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted its report on Thursday.

The Report comprises of 18,626 pages and is an outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts and research work over 191 days, since its constitution on September 2, 2023.

The committee submitted the report in the presence of all committee members including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief Gulam Nabi Azad and others.

Recently the High Level Committee also met and interacted with representatives of several Political parties including BJP, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPI(M), AIMIM, RPI, Apna Dal etc.

Representatives of these parties also handed over their suggestions in writing to the committee.

The High-Level Committee relating to the holding of simultaneous elections in the country has initiated a consultation process under the chairmanship of Ram Nath Kovind, former President of India.

The High-Level Committee recently also sought public opinion regarding the one nation, one election issue. The public notice issued stated, “Notice for inviting suggestions from members of the general public for making appropriate changes in the existing legal administrative framework to enable simultaneous elections in the country.”

The central government in September last year constituted a high-level Committee to examine the issue of ‘One Nation, One Election’ and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections in the country.

The central idea behind ‘One Nation One Election’ is to synchronize the timing of Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections across all States to reduce the frequency of polls throughout the country.

This concept was the practice till 1967, but it was disrupted due to various reasons such as defections, dismissals, and dissolutions of government. (ANI)

This growth forecast by the global rating agency is 20 basis points higher than the government’s estimate of 7.6 per cent.

India’s economic growth has continued to outperform forecasts; real GDP rose by 8.4 per cent year-on-year in the October-December quarter, a much stronger increase than Ficth said what it had expected.

India’s GDP grew at a massive 8.4 per cent during the October-December quarter of the current financial year 2023-24 and the country continued to remain the fastest-growing major economy.

The Indian economy grew 7.8 per cent and 7.6 per cent during the preceding two quarters – April-June and July-September. The strength of domestic demand has driven the economy to a 7 per cent plus growth rate in the last three years. India’s economy grew 7.2 per cent in 2022-23 and 8.7 per cent in 2021-22, respectively.

For 2024-25, Ficth expects the Indian economy to continue its strong expansion, with real GDP forecast to increase by 7.0 per cent in 2024-25, a 0.5 percentage points upward revision from its December forecasts.

“Domestic demand, especially investment, will be the main driver of growth, amid sustained levels of business and consumer confidence,” Fitch said.

Delving upon consumer price inflation, it outlined how it picked up in the last months of 2023 driven by food prices. CPI inflation reached 5.7 per cent in December, before falling to 5.1 per cent in February.

“We expect headline inflation to steadily decrease to 4 per cent by calendar year-end on the assumption that recent food price volatility will subside,” Fitch said.

“The RBI has kept its key policy rate at 6.5%, and in its communication has focused on confirming its hawkish policy stance of “withdrawal of monetary accommodation” and the need to bring inflation down towards target. We now think that the RBI will cut rates only in 2H24 and by 50bp (revised from 75bp in December) in view of the stronger growth outlook.”

The retail inflation in India though is in RBI’s 2-6 per cent comfort level but is above the ideal 4 per cent scenario.

Barring the recent pauses, the RBI has raised the repo rate by 250 basis points cumulatively to 6.5 per cent since May 2022 in the fight against inflation. Raising interest rates is a monetary policy instrument that typically helps suppress demand in the economy, thereby helping the inflation rate decline.

At the latest monetary policy meeting, the RBI pegged India’s retail inflation projections for 2024-25 at 4.5 per cent, with Q1 at 5.0 per cent, Q2 at 4.0 per cent, Q3 at 4.6 per cent, and Q4 at 4.7 per cent, with risks evenly balanced.

Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings has raised its 2024 global GDP growth forecast by 0.3 percentage points to 2.4 per cent in its latest Global Economic Outlook (GEO), arguing that the prospects for growth world over in the near-term have improved and.

This reflects a sharp upward revision to the US growth forecast to 2.1 per cent, from 1.2 per cent in the December 2023 estimates.

The revision to the US outweighs a marginal cut to its China 2024 growth forecast – to 4.5 per cent from 4.6 per cent – and a small revision to its eurozone forecast, to 0.6 per cent from 0.7 per cent.

The rating agency its latest report also revised upwardly the growth forecast for emerging markets excluding China by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 per cent, with forecasts raised for India, Russia and Brazil.

Fitch expects world growth in 2025 to edge up to 2.5 per cent (unchanged from before) as the eurozone finally recovers on a pick-up in real wages and consumption – but US growth slows.

“And with lagged effects from last year’s monetary tightening still to come through as real interest rates rise (in the US), we expect quarter-on-quarter growth to slow to a significantly below-trend rate later this year,” Fitch said.

The eurozone continues to stagnate, with Germany’s recession weighing on France and the rest of the bloc, it said.

“The German economy faces structural growth constraints but it has also been hit by a string of major shocks that are unlikely to be repeated. Growth should pick up in the medium term as the ECB cuts rates, world trade recovers and the impact of the energy shock fades.”

“China’s property collapse continues unabated – housing sales now look likely to fall sharply again this year – and evidence of deflationary pressures is rising. But fiscal easing is being stepped up materially and this has cushioned the impact on the GDP forecast.”

On the monetary policy side, Fitch expects both the US Federal Reserve and ECB to cut rates three times, by a total of 75 basis points, by year-end.

“But both central banks want to see more evidence that recent disinflation progress is durable before starting out on the policy-easing process. We have pushed back the date of the first Fed cut to July from our previous expectation of June. We have also pushed back the date of the first ECB cut to June from April,” Fitch said. (ANI)

]]> https://indiapost.com/fitch-raises-india-2023-24-growth-forecast-above-government-estimates/feed/ 0 https://indiapost.com/adhir-chowdhury-dissent-on-ec-selection-gyanesh-kumar-sukhbir-sandhu-to-be-new-ecs/ https://indiapost.com/adhir-chowdhury-dissent-on-ec-selection-gyanesh-kumar-sukhbir-sandhu-to-be-new-ecs/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:43:05 +0000 https://indiapost.com/?p=190773 NEW DELHI: Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Thursday dissented on the names put up by the government for the position of Election Commissioner. Two positions in the commission were vacant following the recent resignation of EC Arun Goel.

The selection committee consisting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, law minister Arjun Meghwal and Leader of Opposition met this morning to consider names for the vacant positions of election commissioner.

After the meeting of the selection committee, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that the procedure followed for selection of the Election Commissioners has some lacunae.

“They (government) have the majority (in the committee that appoints election commissioner). Earlier, they had given me 212 names, but 10 minutes before the appointment they again gave me just six names. I know that the CJI isn’t there, government has made such a law that the CJI doesn’t interfere and the Central govt can choose a favourable name. I am not saying that it’s arbitrary but the procedure that is being followed has some lacunae.” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

Sources say, the selection committee finally closed on two names, retired IAS officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. The two will join Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on the commission.

Gyanesh Kumar retired as secretary of the cooperation ministry in February, while Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, was former Chief Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand.

On December 12, Rajya Sabha passed a bill to regulate the appointment and service terms of Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners. The bill replaces the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991.

As per the Bill, the CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee, which will consist of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition or leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha.

On March 9, Election Commissioner Arun Goel on Saturday resigned from the post. His resignation was accepted by the President

The first task before the new election commissioner will be to ensure the successful conduct of the Lok Sabha polls which are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

]]> https://indiapost.com/adhir-chowdhury-dissent-on-ec-selection-gyanesh-kumar-sukhbir-sandhu-to-be-new-ecs/feed/ 0 https://indiapost.com/china-two-killed-in-deadly-restaurant-blast-in-city-near-beijing/ https://indiapost.com/china-two-killed-in-deadly-restaurant-blast-in-city-near-beijing/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:10:25 +0000 https://indiapost.com/?p=190768 BEIJING: At least two people were killed and 26 more were injured after a massive blast, suspected to be a gas explosion, ripped through a residential neighbourhood in northern China on Wednesday, CNN reported.

The powerful blast occurred just before 8 am (local time) at a ground-floor restaurant in a residential area of Sanhe City, Hebei Province, east of the capital Beijing, as reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

It killed at least two people, injured 26 others, and destroyed the four-story building.

The Chinese authorities have “basically determined” the explosion was caused by a gas leak, though they have not identified the specific cause or location of the blast, the broadcaster reported.

Footage circulating on the Chinese social media site Weibo showed a large fireball exploding from a multi-story building, destroying its walls and ceiling and sending huge plumes of smoke into the sky.

At least three buildings were severely damaged, with one left in a skeletal state.

Firefighters were seen putting out the blaze, surrounded by crushed cars and piles of debris, CNN reported, citing videos and photos on Weibo.

Local residents, while sharing their experience on social media, said they heard a loud bang in the early morning and felt their buildings trembling.

Buildings across the street from the blast site were also impacted, with glass shattered and shop signs damaged, as footage aired on CCTV showed. By Wednesday afternoon, the fire had been put out and residents living within 500 meters (1,640 feet) of the site had been evacuated.

Notably, China has seen a series of deadly incidents caused by gas leaks in recent years, according to CNN.

Last June, a gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant in northwest Ningxia region killed 31 people. Following that blast, Chinese market regulators issued detailed guidelines on the use of gas appliances and cookers to avoid safety risks.

The global CEO of DHL Express Pearson said that it is a market that is posting just about the highest GDP growth of almost any major market at the moment.

“India is a very good market for us. It’s the fifth-largest economy in the world. For a start, it’s a market that is posting the highest, just about the highest GDP growth of almost any major large market at the minute,” Pearson told ANI.

Pearson, while speaking to ANI, praised India and called it incredible, creative and innovative.

“We’re very well positioned to capture the opportunities. We have Great build here. It’s an incredible country, very innovative, very creative, and setting themselves up for major logistics success, in my opinion,” he added.

Earlier in September 2022, Prime Minister Modi launched the National Logistics Policy and expressed confidence that the logistics Policy would act as a driving and guiding force.

Meanwhile, highlighting the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Gaza conflict, John Pearson, global CEO of DHL Express hoped that the conflict would ease.

“There is very sadly conflict in Russia and Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza. Hopefully, those things will ease. But as a global company, there is one type of crisis just about every day, and the business is very resilient. India is a great example of that,” he said.

At the launch of the DHL Global Connectedness Report, John Pearson, said, “The most recent findings of the DHL Global Connectedness Report unequivocally dispel the notion of globalization reversing course. Far from being a mere buzzword, globalization is an influential force that has profoundly reshaped our world and has great potential.”

It has further expanded markets and fostered opportunities, empowering individuals, businesses, and entire nations to flourish in unique ways.

“Embracing globalization allows us and our customers to forge a promising future, fostering an increasingly interconnected world, more prosperous for all – and poised for further growth,” he said.

The report affirmed the considerable potential to continue growing global flows.

It pegs the world’s current level of globalization at only 25 per cent on a scale from 0 per cent (meaning no flows cross national borders) to 100 per cent (borders and distance have ceased to matter at all). (ANI)

]]> https://indiapost.com/india-setting-itself-up-for-major-logistics-success-dhl-express-ceo/feed/ 0 https://indiapost.com/india-bhutan-signs-mou-on-general-supply-of-petroleum-oil-and-lubricants/ https://indiapost.com/india-bhutan-signs-mou-on-general-supply-of-petroleum-oil-and-lubricants/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:00:14 +0000 https://indiapost.com/?p=190759 NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its nod for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the General Supply of Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants (POL), and related products from India to Bhutan, in a significant move aimed at fortifying the economic ties between India and Bhutan.

According to a press release, the memorandum, set to be inked between the Government of India and the Royal Government of Bhutan, seeks to enhance bilateral trade in the hydrocarbon sector, ensuring a secured and long-term supply of petroleum products to Bhutan.

The approval underscores India’s commitment to bolstering its commercial relations with Bhutan, regardless of gender, class, or income bias.

One of the primary objectives of the MoU is to foster mutually beneficial economic and commercial linkages between the two nations.

By facilitating the exchange of petroleum products, both India and Bhutan anticipate substantial gains in their respective economies.

Additionally, the MoU aligns with India’s vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), as exports play a pivotal role in realizing this goal.

The MoU will be a strategic fit as Energy Bridge in India’s Neighborhood First Policy.

The MoU is expected to provide a framework for cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, promoting synergy between the energy industries of India and Bhutan.

It will facilitate smoother trade operations, ensuring a steady flow of petroleum products to Bhutan while enhancing India’s export portfolio. (ANI)

According to MHA, the applicants will be able to get information related to CAA-2019 by calling free of cost.

“Helpline number to assist applicants for Indian citizenship under CAA -2019 will be launched soon. Applicants will be able to get information related to CAA-2019 by calling free of cost from anywhere in India. The service will be available from 8 am to 8 pm,” MHA posted on X.

The MHA on Monday notified CAA Rules, 2024 removing legal barriers to rehabilitation and citizenship to such persons, and will give a dignified life to refugees who have suffered for decades.

Earlier, the MHA provided a web portal on which eligible non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan fleeing religious persecution can now seek Indian citizenship.

A mobile app ‘CAA-2019’ will also be launched very soon to facilitate applications through mobile app.

Now, the persons persecuted from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh on religious grounds of six minority communities – Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians– can apply for the grant of Indian citizenship on portal https:/indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in.

The portal was made available on Monday night soon after the MHA notified the rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-2019), now called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024. The rules grant Indian citizenship to these refugees who had sought shelter in India before December 31, 2014.

This is a specific portal on which the people persecuted from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh on religious grounds can apply for Indian citizenship. All the six minority communities– Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians– persecuted from the three countries, who had sought shelter in India before December 31, 2014, can submit applications in a completely online mode on the web portal named “Indian Citizenship Online Portal”.

An application will be submitted to an Empowered Committee through the District Level Committee headed by a designated officer. All documents along with photographs are to be uploaded online and the applications will be processed after a background check by security agencies.

As the CAA is for undocumented people from the six communities, a clutch of documents including those issued by Government authorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to be uploaded by CAA applicants to get citizenship.

As per the rules, the applicant will have to appear in person to subscribe the application and take oath of allegiance, failing which the district-level committee may recommend refusal.

The applicants will have to produce an “eligibility certificate” issued by a “locally reputed community institution” confirming that he or she belongs to “Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian community and continue to be a member of the above mentioned community.

The online application process provides multiple categories under which an applicant can seek Indian citizenship. These include: (i) a person of Indian origin (ii) a person married to a citizen of India (iii) a minor child of an Indian citizen (iv) a person whose parents are Indian citizens (v) a person who or either of parents was a citizen of Independent India (vi) a person registered as Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder (vii) a person seeking citizenship by naturalisation – an adult registered as overseas citizen of India for five years, and who has been living in India for a year.

The applicant can submit any of the following documents while applying for Indian citizenship under CAA: (i) Copy of passport issued by Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan government (ii) birth certificate issued by a government authority in these countries (iii) educational certificate from a school/college/board or university in Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan (iv) identity document of any kind issued by government authorities in these countries (v) residential permit issued by Foreigners Regional Registration Officer or Foreigners Registration Officer in India (vi)any licence issued by government authorities in these three countries (vii) land or tenancy records in these countries (viii) Any document that shows that either of the parents or grandparents or great-grandparents of the applicant is or had been a citizen of these countries. In effect, any document issued by a government authority in Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan to establish that the applicant is from either of these countries is valid for the citizenship process. This applies even if the document is past its validity period.

The applicant will also need to prove that he or she entered India before the cut-off date of December 31, 2014. (ANI)

A bench of justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan’s suggestions came while dealing with the matter relating to Kerala’s plea against Centre over financial matters.

The court remarked to the Centre that they can be slightly liberal, give a one-time package as a special case and apply more rigid conditions in future budgets.

The court also suggested giving the special package to Kerala by March 31 subject to harsher conditions than other States. For the existing States you will be liberal next time, the court remarked

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned Kerala’s suit the matter before the Supreme Court on Tuesday and apprised the court that Centre is not releasing any money to the tune of 19000 crore.

The court suggested the Centre and Kerala to try and work out.

The court said that it will hear the matter tomorrow.

Earlier the Supreme Court had directed the Kerala Govt to hold a meeting with Centre and state officials to resolve the financial issues arising between them.

Earlier in its affidavit, the Kerala Government said that the Central Government accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the total debt or outstanding liabilities of India.

In an affidavit, the Kerala Government said that the Centre can’t control the debt of state and the justification put forth by the Union Government to control the borrowings of the Kerala State are fallacious, exaggerated and unjustified.

Responding to the notes filed by the Attorney General, Kerala Government made submission and said, “The Central Government accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the total debt or outstanding liabilities of India. All the states put together account for the rest (approximately) 40 per cent of the total debt of the country. In fact, the Plaintiff State accounts for a miniscule 1.70-1.75 per cent of the total debt of the Centre and the States put together for the period 2019-2023.”

Kerala’s financial health and debt situation have attracted adverse observations from successive Finance Commissions (12th, 14th and 15th) as well as the CAG and it is one of the most financially unhealthy states as its fiscal edifice has been diagnosed with several cracks, Attorney General said in a note submitted before the Supreme Court.

Responding to Kerala’s government suit, the Centre in its affidavit, apprised the Supreme Court that Kerala has been one of the most financially unhealthy states, and its fiscal edifice of Kerala has been diagnosed with several cracks.

The Attorney General for India has filed a written note in the suit filed by Kerala Government where he said that debt of states affects the credit rating of the country.

The note was filed in response to the Kerala Government petition against Centre’s alleged interference in states’ finances and said that due to such interference the state is not able to fulfil the commitments in its annual budgets.

In a suit filed by Kerala government, it stated that state government deals with the executive power conferred on the Plaintiff State under Article 293 of the Constitution of India to borrow on the security or guarantee of the Consolidated Fund of the State in alignment with the fiscal autonomy of the Plaintiff State as guaranteed and enshrined in the Constitution.

Kerala Government, through its petition, said Centre through the Ministry of Finance (Public Finance-State Division), Department of Expenditure letters dated March 2023 & August 2023 and by amendments made to Section 4 of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, of 2003 sought to interfere with the finances of the state by imposing a net borrowing ceiling on the State.

The Kerala government said that such interference with the finances of the state was caused by imposing a net borrowing ceiling on the plaintiff state in the manner deemed fit by the defendant union, which limits borrowings from all sources, including open market borrowings. (ANI)

]]> https://indiapost.com/sc-suggests-centre-to-be-liberal-on-relaxing-borrowing-conditions-to-kerala/feed/ 0 https://indiapost.com/this-is-a-khela-to-take-away-your-rights-mamata-banerjee-attacks-centre-over-caa-move/ https://indiapost.com/this-is-a-khela-to-take-away-your-rights-mamata-banerjee-attacks-centre-over-caa-move/#respond Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:37:21 +0000 https://indiapost.com/?p=190746 NORTH 24 PARAGANAS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday attacked the Centre over the timing of its decision to notify the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), saying that she doubts the legality of CAA and she said that there is no clarity from the side of the Central government.

“Central Government implemented CAA yesterday, I am doubtful of its legality. There is no clarity from the Government over this. In 2019, names of 13 Lakh Hindu Bengalis, out of the total 19 Lakh, were removed from the list in Assam in the name of NRC. Several people died by suicide,” said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

“Will they (whose names were removed) be granted citizenship if they seek?… What would be the future of their children? What about their property?… All your rights would be snatched, you would be branded ‘illegal’. This is a game (Khela) to strip you of your rights…You will be taken to detention camp…You (Centre) hear me, I will not let anyone be taken away from Bengal,” Mamata Banerjee asserted.

After the Bhartiya Janata Party-led Centre announced the CAA notification on Monday (March 11), Opposition parties strongly criticised the move, calling it an action by the Centre to create division and polarise the upcoming general elections.

Several leaders from the Opposition bloc have expressed their disappointment over the Centre’s decision.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) Spokesperson Anand Dubey questioned the timing of the recent Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) notification, suggesting that the government had a decade to introduce it.

Dubey expressed his concerns, stating, “We are sitting in March 2024, if you wanted to bring a law, you had ten years, you could have brought the law. Now when the code of conduct will be imposed in 2-4 days, then you are bringing the law…Today you have implemented the Citizenship Amendment Act CAA, what will happen from this? There are elections ahead, that’s why you are doing all these things.”

Dubey suggested that the motive behind the sudden implementation is to create an atmosphere of anarchy in the country, influencing the electoral landscape.

“BJP can do anything to win the elections. They don’t care about the promises made by them to the people, this is all Jumlabazi. They don’t want to address the main issues such as inflation and unemployment in the country,” Dubey said.

Training guns at the BJP, he said, “Do you know the meaning of Ram Rajya? Shri Ram went to exile to fulfil the promises made by him, and you break parties, put people in jail?, talk about Vipaksh mukt Bharat? These (implementation of CAA) are all tactics to win the elections, but the people of the country know everything.”

Also, AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi suspected a political motive behind the implementation of the act just before the elections.

“Just a few days before the Lok Sabha elections, CAA is being brought. What does this show? This shows that Modi govt knows that they haven’t done any work in the last 10 years,” AAP leader Atishi said.

“The youth today is unemployed, there are no homes for the poor, and inflation is increasing. Rather than bringing people from the neighbouring countries, why doesn’t he offer employment, provide home to the people of this country?” she said.

On Monday evening, the Union Home Ministry notified rules for implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), days ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections schedule.

The CAA, introduced by the Narendra Modi government and passed by Parliament in 2019, aims to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants – including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians – who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. (ANI)

Making the announcement after a meeting of the BJP legislators in Chandigarh, Haryana BJP MLA Krishan Lal Middha says, “Nayab Singh Saini to be next CM of Haryana. All people are now going to meet the Governor.

The BJP and its allies, 6 independent MLAs will now meet the governor. The new Chief Minister is expected to be sworn in later today. In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the BJP has 41 MLAs. It also enjoys the support of 5 independent MLAs and the Haryana Lokhit Party MLA Gopal Kanda.

Karnal BJP MP Sanjay Bhatia said, “…It is the CM’s right to choose his cabinet and he will do so in consultation with the party…We will win all 10 Lok Sabha seats of Haryana…

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won all 10 parliamentary seats while JJP, which had contested the elections in alliance with AAP, could not put up a fight on 7 seats it contested.

Kurukshetra MP Nayab Singh Saini, was appointed Haryana BJP state president in October last year. Nayab Singh Saini won the Kurukshetra constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by more than 3.83 lakh votes over his nearest challenger, Nirmal Singh of the Indian National Congress (INC).

Saini, who was elected MLA for the first time in 2014 and has since served as a minister, is regarded as Manohar Lal Khattar’s confidante. The Saini caste accounts for around 8 per cent of the Haryana population, with a substantial presence in pockets of Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Hisar, and Rewari districts which will have significant impact on Lok Sabha election.

Saini’s involvement with the BJP began in 1996, when he joined the Haryana BJP’s organisational structure, serving alongside the state general secretary until 2000. He rose through the ranks to become the district general secretary of the BJP Youth Wing in Ambala in 2002, followed by his appointment as district president in 2005.

Earlier, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday resigned from the state Chief Minister hours after the BJP alliance with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) broke. The JJP led by Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala had 10 MLAs in the Haryana Assembly. Manohar Lal Khattar submitted his resignation letter to Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya. (ANI)

The official page of 20th Century Studios India took to Instagram on Monday to share the new trailer and wrote, “Watch the new trailer for #TheFirstOmen. Experience the most terrifying movie of the year, only in cinemas April 5.”

The trailer shows more unseen footage from the psychological horror film and teases what is promised to be a terrifying movie.

The story revolves around a young American lady who is brought to Rome to begin a life of devotion to the church. She discovers a darkness that forces her to doubt her faith and uncovers a horrifying plot that seeks to bring an evil incarnate into the world.

The star cast includes Nell Tiger Free, Tawfeek Barhom, Sonia Braga, Ralph Ineson and Bill Nighy.

The film is directed by Arkasha Stevenson and based on characters created by David Seltzer, with a story by Ben Jacoby and a screenplay by Tim Smith, Arkasha Stevenson and Keith Thomas.

The producers are David S. Goyer and Keith Levine, and the executive producers are Tim Smith, Whitney Brown, and Gracie Wheelan.

Gregory Peck played an ambassador who believes his little son is the living essence of the Antichrist in the original ‘The Omen’. (ANI)

In the videos captured by Mumbai-based paparazzi, the actor was seen making her way towards the airport entrance.

Kriti looked beautiful in a blue colour strappy dress. She completed the look with minimalistic makeup and opted for a tote handbag.

She blushed while posing for the paps.

Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat, who have been dating each other for a couple of years now, the couple is likely to exchange vows in forthcoming days at ITC Grand Bharat in Manesar, Haryana, amidst the Aravalli range.

Both Pulkit and Kriti were born in Delhi and since their families reside in the NCR region, it is clear why the couple opted for this venue.

Kriti and Pulkit have appeared together in several films like ‘Veerey Ki Wedding’, ‘Taish’, and ‘Pagalpanti’. Pulkit was previously married to Shweta Rohira.

The speculations around Pulkit and Kriti’s wedding surfaced after the duo on Valentine’s Days shared similar pictures of themselves from their romantic vacation. It’s their captions that hinted that they will get married in March.

“Let’s March together, hand in hand #happyvalentinesday,” Kriti wrote on Instagram, adding a picture of herself with Pulkit.

Pulkit shared a photo of him embracing Kriti as they sail on a boat in an exotic location. Alongside the image, he wrote the words ‘I do’.

His caption read, “Dancing on the edge of a leap! I do, I do, I do love you.. @kriti.kharbanda.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, Pulkit recently appeared in the third installment of Fukrey and had a brief role in Zoya Akhtar’s web show Made in Heaven Season 2. Kriti is gearing up for the release of her upcoming movie, Risky Romeo, scheduled for May 2024. (ANI)

The annual report from the US intelligence community, presented to Congress, suggests that “distrust of Netanyahu’s ability to rule has deepened and broadened across the public from its already high levels before the war, and we expect large protests demanding his resignation and new elections.”

“A different, more moderate government is a possibility,” it also said.

The report also underscores criticism within Israel directed at Netanyahu’s government for failing to anticipate the October 7 attack by Hamas, resulting in significant casualties and hostages. Public opinion questions the efficacy of Netanyahu’s prolonged military response, which has caused extensive destruction in Gaza and raised doubts about its effectiveness in rescuing hostages, as reported by CNN.

Despite widespread support in Israel for dismantling Hamas, the intelligence assessment delivers a stark outlook on Netanyahu’s political standing, signaling a possible shift towards a more moderate government. This assessment is notable given President Joe Biden’s previous positive sentiments towards Netanyahu.

Tensions between the US and Israeli leaders have escalated, particularly regarding the civilian toll in Gaza. The Biden administration has urged Israel to allow more aid into the Palestinian enclave, with Biden warning that Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel.”

To which Netanyahu hit back in a separate interview that if Biden was suggesting “that I’m pursuing private policies against the wish of the majority of Israelis, and that this is hurting the interests of Israel then he’s wrong on both counts.”

The intelligence report further warns that Israel may face ongoing armed resistance from Hamas, with difficulties in neutralising the group’s underground infrastructure. Military experts echo these concerns, cautioning that Israel’s aggressive approach may inspire future generations of terrorists, as evidenced by the influence of Hamas on groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS.

The report indicates a heightened terrorism threat within the US since the October 7 attack, with FBI Director Chris Wray emphasizing the increased risk from various extremist groups.

“Even before October 7th, I would have told this committee that we were at a heightened threat level from a terrorism perspective, in the sense that it’s the first time I’ve seen in a long, long time the threats from homegrown violent extremists, that is jihadist-inspired extremists, domestic violent extremists, foreign terrorist organizations and state sponsored terrorist organizations all being elevated at one time,” Wray said.

The Annual Threat Assessment, a comprehensive overview of global security threats, took an unusual turn during a Congressional hearing, with Republican lawmakers focusing on security issues related to the US southern border. This deviation prompted a brief exchange between Democrat Sen Mark Warner and Republican Sen Jim Risch about the politicisation of the panel.

“One of the things I think that we have always taken some pride [in on this committee] is that we can agree without questioning each other’s patriotism, questioning each other’s motives,” Warner said, adding, “And I hope that tenor will be maintained.”

Risch fired back, referring to Warner and another Democratic senator who condemned the Republican line of questioning: “I’ve been on this committee for 15 years and we do a really good job until politics do creep in — and that’s what’s happened here this afternoon with the last two speakers,” according to CNN.

Testimonies from Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and CIA Director Bill Burns highlighted the precarious situation in Ukraine. Russia’s resurgence and Ukraine’s ammunition shortages pose significant challenges, with the CIA urging additional US assistance to prevent further territorial losses.

Burns said that without additional assistance from the US, Ukraine “is likely to lose ground and probably significant ground in 2024.” A USD 60 billion aid package to Ukraine has been delayed in the House amid Republican opposition to additional funding.

“I think without supplemental assistance in 2024, you’re going to see more of Avdiivkas, and that it seems to me would be a massive and historic mistake for the United States,” Burns said, referring to a city recently taken by Russia, according to CNN.

The intelligence report suggests that Russia benefits from “uncertainties about the future of Western military assistance” and a battlefield “deadlock,” battlefield, which “plays to Russia’s strategic military advantages and is increasingly shifting the momentum in Moscow’s favor.”

Additionally, China’s role in supporting Russia in the conflict has raised concerns, with Beijing tripling its exports of goods with potential military use to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

China has provided “economy and security assistance to Russia’s war in Ukraine through support to Russia’s defense industrial base, including by providing dual-use material and components for weapons,” the report states.

Trade between China and Russia has increased, surpassing USD 220 billion in 2023, with Russia providing China economic benefits, including cheaper energy prices and enhanced access to the Arctic, in exchange for support in the conflict, CNN reported (ANI)

Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s active role on the global stage and India’s rapid economic growth, US Representative Congressman Rich McCormick envisioned India as a key player in conflict resolution, competing with major economies like China and the United States.

“I think India is just getting started in this. PM Modi is engaged internationally. He has a rapidly growing economy. One of the fastest in the world, is soon to be the third largest GDP in the world. It is going to compete with China and eventually the United States, depending on what the United States does in their economy. The more powerful you get, the more people pay attention to you,” he told ANI.

McCormick also emphasised India’s significant leverage as Russia’s largest energy consumer and stressed the importance of ensuring that diplomatic efforts align with the best interests of all parties involved.

“India is their (Russia’s) largest energy consumer, so it gives them incredible leverage,” Congressman McCormick said.

The US Congressman also underscored the importance of ensuring everyone’s best interests are considered and leveraging diplomatic power effectively. “We just need to make sure that everybody’s best interests are at hand and that we’re doing it in the right way. Leverage only applies if you’re willing to use it,” he added.

Addressing the gravity of the situation, McCormick warned against succumbing to idle threats and stated the need to avoid self-assured mutual destruction. “Now, Putin’s leveraging the fact that he has nuclear arms, but we’ve seen this used by nefarious actors in North Korea. Think that it’s really important as we go forward that we don’t succumb to just idle threats. And maybe this is not an idle threat. If it’s not an idle threat, we have a bigger problem. We have to, as a world, realize that self-assured mutual destruction is not the way to go going forward,” the US Congressman said.

Another US Congressman, Raja Krishnamoorthi, echoed thesentiment, expressing confidence in India’s ability to broker peace.

“Yes, definitely. And I hope that India continues to play its role,” Krishnamoorthi affirms. Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence, he highlighted the need for peaceful conflict resolution, irrespective of the parties involved.

“India is known for Mahatma Gandhi, and Mahatma Gandhi believed in non-violence,” Krishnamoorthi said, adding, “We can’t settle scores through violence. It has to be done peacefully and at the bargaining table, regardless of who you are, whether you’re the Chinese Communist Party, whether you’re Russia, or whether you’re any other actor.”

A recent CNN report said that outreach from PM Modi and other countries played an important role in averting a ‘potential’ nuclear strike by Moscow against Kyiv, in what would have been the first nuclear attack since the US dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki nearly eighty years before. The report also claimed that as the Russia-Ukraine war raged in 2022, the United States started “preparing rigorously” for a potential nuclear strike by Moscow against Kyiv.

The Biden administration was specifically concerned Russia might use a tactical or battlefield nuclear weapon, CNN cited two officials. Amid the fears, the US sought to enlist the help of non-allies including India, to discourage Russia from such an attack, as reported by the US media outlet.

“One of the things we did was not only message them directly but strongly urge, press, encourage other countries, to whom they might be more attentive, to do the same thing,” the senior administration official said.

US officials say that outreach and public statements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others helped avert a crisis. “I think we believe showing the international community the concern about this, particularly the concern from key countries for Russia and the Global South, was also a helpful, persuasive factor and showed them what the cost of all this could be,” CNN quoted a senior administration official as saying.

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has always condemned civilian killings and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

In a major statement, PM Modi told President Putin that “this is not the era of war” on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan last year. The statement even made to the G20 communique under the presidency of India. (ANI)

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