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PM Modi to Visit 5 Countries in 8 Days, Attend BRICS Summit in Brazil

PM Modi to Visit 5 Countries in 8 Days, Attend BRICS Summit in Brazil

The PM’s eight-day tour from July 2 to July 9 would cover two continents and include visits to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to begin his longest international trip in ten years, starting Wednesday, July 2. The eight-day journey will cover five countries—Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia—and conclude on July 9.   Modi’s visit is expected to boost India’s ties with emerging economies across Africa and Latin America. The tour will begin in Ghana, where discussions will likely center around trade, development, and cultural exchange. In Trinidad and Tobago, Modi will connect with the Indian diaspora and explore bilateral cooperation.   The Prime Minister will then head to Argentina to focus on areas such as agriculture, energy, and digital innovation. A key part of the trip will be his participation in the BRICS Summit in Brazil, where leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa will meet to discuss global economic challenges and cooperation among developing nations.   Modi will wrap up the tour with a historic visit to Namibia—the first by an Indian Prime Minister. Talks there are expected to explore opportunities in sectors like mining, green energy, and education.   This trip reflects India’s growing diplomatic outreach to the Global South, aiming to strengthen strategic, economic, and people-to-people partnerships.  

Published 01 Jul 2025 08:30 AM

To accelerate development, PM Modi calls on states to cooperate with the center.

To accelerate development, PM Modi calls on states to cooperate with the center.

Punjab laments "step motherly treatment," T.N. demands a larger portion of Central tax income, and the PM encourages States to create world-class tourism destinations and incorporate women into the workforce at the Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting.Some States, including Tamil Nadu and Punjab, complained to the Center while others offered proposals to accelerate their growth, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for the States to unite with the Center to accelerate national development.Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong case for cooperative federalism on Saturday, emphasizing the value of coordinated action between the federal government and the states. He said that no goal is impossible when India works as "Team India." The Prime Minister, who chaired the 10th meeting of Niti Aayog's Governing Council, emphasized the importance of accelerating development efforts in order to achieve a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047. The purpose of the gathering, which had as its topic "Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047," was to synchronize national and state developmental goals. "Every Indian aspires to Viksit Bharat. Bharat will be Viksit once all the states are Viksit. Prime Minister Modi stated, "This is what its 140 crore citizens want."The chief ministers of every state, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and a number of Union ministers make up the Governing Council, the highest authority within Niti Aayog. The Prime Minister promoted a bottom-up approach to development while serving as the council's head. "Our goal should be to make every state, city, Nagar Palika, and hamlet viksit. We won't have to wait till 2047 to achieve Viksit Bharat if we continue along these lines," he continued.He suggested that every state choose and create at least one internationally renowned tourism destination with all the amenities and infrastructure of today. "One State: One Worldwide Location." The Prime Minister pointed out that it will also result in the growth of nearby cities as tourism destinations.He called for an emphasis on creating "future-ready cities" with development driven by growth, innovation, and sustainability, acknowledging the rapid rate of urbanization in India. In addition, the Prime Minister emphasized the significance of boosting women's employment. He stated that in order for them to be politely included into the labor, rules and procedures must be created.  

Published 28 May 2025 07:55 PM

Bangladesh in Turmoil : Sheikh Hasina Resigns as Prime Minister

Bangladesh in Turmoil : Sheikh Hasina Resigns as Prime Minister

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigns from the office and lands at Hindon Air force Station near Delhi, at 5:36 pm on August 5, 2024. The move came as a result of series of protests happening in the country, in which around 300 people have already lost their lives. After Sheikh Hasina left the country with her sister, protestors stormed inside the Prime Minister House. Amidst the turmoil Bangladesh Army Chief, Waker Uz Zaman has said that an interim government will be formed and the injustices will be addressed.  As a neighboring country, India is also going to face challenges because of the sudden turn of events. In the border areas which are already facing heavy unemployment and corruption, these events could pose even more challenges. West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee has urged the people to maintain peace. The turmoil has halted travel between India and Bangladesh. Air India has cancelled all the scheduled flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect. It’s time for India to look towards this pressing issue in our neighboring country.

Published 05 Aug 2024 07:38 PM

Says Chinas Xi, Putins Re-Election Fully Reflects Russian Peoples Support

Says Chinas Xi, Putins Re-Election Fully Reflects Russian Peoples Support

Chinese President Xi Jinping informed his Russian counterpart that his reelection "fully reflects the support of the Russian people" in a congrats letter sent on Monday, according to Beijing's official media. As of Monday, official election data indicated that Putin had received 87.33 percent of all votes cast, with 99 percent of polling places having submitted results, as reported by state news agency RIA. In a presidential election where he had no real competition, Putin achieved a record-breaking win, despite the polls' criticism.Xi addressed Putin, saying, "Your re-election fully reflects the support of the Russian people for you," as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. "In recent years, the Russian people have united as one to overcome challenges and move forward steadily on the road to national development and revitalisation," according to Xi. "I believe that under your leadership, Russia will be able to achieve greater achievements in national development and construction," he stated. "China attaches great importance to the development of China-Russia relations and is willing to maintain close communication with Russia to promote the sustained, healthy, stable and in-depth development of (bilateral ties)," said Xi.bolster relationships According to Russian state news agency TASS, Putin praised Beijing, his important ally, saying he was "sure that in the coming years we will only strengthen and build up our relations and achieve common successes for the benefit of the Chinese and Russian peoples." "The alignment of state interests is the most crucial factor. According to reports, Putin said, "This sets a very good tone for solving common problems in the field of international relations."

Published 18 Mar 2024 05:27 PM

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Himachal Pradesh Political Crisis: Six rebel Congress MLAs disqualified. What lies ahead for the hill state?

Himachal Pradesh Political Crisis: Six rebel Congress MLAs disqualified. What lies ahead for the hill state?

Himachal Pradesh Assembly speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on February 29 disqualified the six rebel Congress MLAs who cross-voted during the Rajya Sabha elections. With this, the six MLAs cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly.After the disqualification, the Congress government has, for now, survived in Himachal Pradesh after a two-day scare over its future due to cross-voting by six of its MLAs in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in the Rajya Sabha election on February 27. The strength of the house after the disqualification, pending judicial scrutiny, comes down to 62. The Congress now has 34 MLAs in the house, with 32 being the majority mark. Three independent MLAs who supported the Congress also cross-voted for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election. The BJP had demanded a trust vote soon after the Congress lost the Rajya Sabha polls due to defections. Former Chief Minister, Jairam Thakur, and other leaders claimed that the Congress party had lost the majority in the house. However, the Congress government passed the budget on Wednesday, February 28, while 25 BJP MLAs were not present in the house after 15 of them were suspended. Also, the disqualification of six rebel MLAs has changed the dynamics. "Our experts will analyse the situation, and after looking at their judgments, we will take a decision. It is too early to say anything. Congress was totally exposed in the Rajya Sabha elections. Congress has lost its opportunity. Morally, they have no right to stay in power and the emotions of the people of Himachal Pradesh are clear from this," Rajeev Bindal, Himachal Pradesh BJP president, told news agency ANI. This disqualification order is subject to judicial scrutiny and will attain finality after judicial scrutiny, Pathania said. Also, it remains to be seen if these six MLAs approach the court against the disqualification. The six legislators had cross-voted, along with three independents, during Rajya Sabha polls. However, they have not been disqualified for cross-voting, but for violating the whip and skipping the budget session of the Himachal Pradesh assembly. Pathania said he wanted to prevent 'the aya Ram gaya Ram' politics. This phrase is used to refer to politicians switching party allegiances frequently. The Congress government's survival will also depend on whether the party can ensure that there are no more defections among the 34 MLAs. The Congress government's survival will also depend on whether the party can ensure that there are no more defections among the 34 MLAs.    

BJP, Congress, other national parties declare 2022-23 income. Who earned the most?

BJP, Congress, other national parties declare 2022-23 income. Who earned the most?

Six national parties, including the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and Congress, have declared a total income of nearly ₹3,077 crore in the 2022-23 fiscal, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said on Wednesday. According to the ADR report, the BJP has the maximum share in the declared total income of the parties.With around ₹2,361 crore, the report said that the ruling BJP’s income constitutes 76.73 per cent of the total income of the six national parties during FY 2022-23. Congress declared the second-highest income of ₹452.375 crore, forming 14.70 per cent of the total income of the six national parties. Other than the BJP and Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and National People’s Party (NPP) have declared their income.The BJP, Congress and AAP collected 49.09 per cent or ₹1,510.61 crore of the national parties’ total income from donations through electoral bonds for FY 2022-23. Through electoral bonds, BJP received ₹1,294.15 crore, Congress ₹171.02 crore, and AAP ₹45.45 crore. The ADR report, citing data shared by the SBI in response to its RTI, said electoral bonds worth ₹2,797.356 crore were redeemed by parties in FY 2022-23. 54 per cent or ₹1,510.62 crore of this has been redeemed by national parties. Between 2021-22 and 2022-23, the BJP’s income increased by 23.15 per cent or ₹443.724 crore from ₹1,917.12 crore to ₹2,360.84. During the same time, AAP’s income increased by 91.23 per cent ( ₹40.631 crore) from ₹44.539 crore to ₹85.17 crore.The only party from the northeast to have the national party status, the income of the National People’s Party (NPP) increased from ₹47.20 lakh during FY 2021-22 to ₹7.562 crore during FY 2022-23, a rise of 1,502.12 per cent or ₹7.09 crore. Citing the national parties’ records submitted to the Election Commission, the ADR report said that between 2021-22 fiscal and 2022-23 fiscal, the income of the Congress, CPI(M) and BSP decreased by 16.42 per cent ( ₹88.90 crore), 12.68 per cent ( ₹20.57 crore) and 33.14 per cent ( ₹14.50 crore), respectively. BJP, the report said, declared a total income of ₹2,360.844 crore during FY 2022-23, but spent only 57.68 per cent, which comes to ₹1,361.684 crore of the total income. While Congress’ total income was ₹452.375 crore, it spent ₹467.135 crore, with its expenditure for that year exceeding its total income by 3.26 per cent.The CPI(M)’s total income was ₹141.661 crore while it spent ₹106.067 crore (74.87 per cent of its income), and AAP’s total income was ₹85.17 crore while it spent ₹102.051 crore, its expenditure for that year exceeding its total income by 19.82 per cent.    

In Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee meets with PM Modi

In Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee meets with PM Modi

"Following protocol, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described her interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan on Friday night as a courtesy meeting. According to Banerjee, she also discussed with the PM the matter of the state's unpaid bills.   ""In addition to chatting with the prime minister, I brought up state-related issues with him,"" Banerjee told reporters following the meeting.Beginning on Friday, PM Modi will spend the night at Raj Bhavan while on a two-day tour of West Bengal.   The prime minister arrived at the governor's house shortly after Banerjee's convoy pulled in. Governor C V Ananda Bose took to X and said he met the PM at the Raj Bhavan. Earlier in the day, Bose had also attended the prime minister's official program at Arambagh, where Modi dedicated, inaugurated, and laid the groundwork for several development projects totaling more than ₹ 7,200 crore.Banerjee met with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi in December of last year to demand the release of the state's outstanding debt.   The TMC claimed that West Bengal owed the Center ₹ 1.18 lakh crore. According to the Union government, two tranches of tax devolution were released to all states on Thursday. West Bengal received ₹ 10,692 crore, which is the fourth-highest amount after Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.   On Monday, the state government started paying over 30 lakh MGNREGA workers their outstanding debt of ₹ 2,700 crore, which had been unpaid since March 2022."  

Congress To Defend 18 Seats in Maharashtra Opposition Seat Deal

Congress To Defend 18 Seats in Maharashtra Opposition Seat Deal

According to sources who spoke with NDTV on Friday morning, the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra has decided on a seat-sharing agreement for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. In 48 hours, there'll probably be an official announcement. Sources claim that 20 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be contested by the Shiv Sena faction, which is led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The Nationalist Congress Party unit under Sharad Pawar will field candidates for the remaining 10 seats, with the Congress contesting 18 of them. The Sena (UBT) will give two seats to regional parties like Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, and Mr. Pawar's share will give a ticket to an independent candidate named Raju Shetty.Additionally, according to sources, the Sena (UBT) will run for four of Mumbai's six Lok Sabha seats; the VBA may receive one of them, potentially the Mumbai North East seat. The MVA's seat-sharing agreement is a significant step forward for the opposition bloc in India, which is attempting to finalize agreements as soon as possible because the election is scheduled for a few weeks from now. State parties have consistently pushed the national outfit to secure a larger share of seats, making it difficult for the Congress-led group—which was founded in June of last year with the specific goal of unseating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party—to reach agreements.Its task has been made even more difficult by the Congress's miserable electoral record over the past ten years, particularly in 2014 and 2019, when it won a combined total of fewer than 100 seats. In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party has been riding the alliance to an almost impossible level. After the Congress persisted in negotiating Mamata Banerjee's "final" offer of two seats—the same (and only) two it had won the previous time—the Trinamool Congress in Bengal even ended all negotiations with the party.

The Himachal Crisis and Congress: Navjot Sidhus War Cry

The Himachal Crisis and Congress: Navjot Sidhus War Cry

Navjot Sidhu's War Cry During Congress' Himachal Crisis: "Purge The Party" After launching a fierce attack this morning on six party lawmakers who crossed-vote in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election, which the party should have easily won, Navjot Singh Sidhu, the leader of the Congress in Punjab, appeared to be siding with the Bharatiya Janata Party. A political crisis in the hill state, where the Congress won less than two years ago, has been brought on by the shocking Rajya Sabha loss. The BJP is now demanding that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's weakened government demonstrate its strength in the 68-member House.Next, Mr. Sidhu attacked "masqueraders" who were "secretly dancing to the tunes of agencies like CBI, ED" and said that leaders in the Congress should be removed for "prioritizing personal gain over the collective good." "'Masqueraders' (for) plum posts, covertly dancing to the tunes of agencies like Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, and Income Tax Department, have spelt doomsday for us many-a-times!" said he.

Cross-voting, Hotel Stay, and Helicopter Return for Six Himachal Congress MLAs

Cross-voting, Hotel Stay, and Helicopter Return for Six Himachal Congress MLAs

Six Congress MLAs who supported the BJP candidate in the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections have returned to Shimla after departing Haryana on Wednesday for an undisclosed location. Three independent MLAs were among the returnees; they had also arrived here yesterday following their votes in the Rajya Sabha election. When the nine of them arrived at the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, BJP MLAs welcomed them with thumping and slogans.The lawmakers, which included Rajinder Rana and Ravi Thakur, stayed in a hotel here last night before departing this morning in a helicopter from Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, Haryana, which is governed by the BJP, according to earlier reports. Tuesday, after casting their votes in the Rajya Sabha election, the MLAs traveled from Shimla to Haryana. It is purported that they are in contact with the BJP regarding a potential takeover of the state government. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, reportedly "disappointed" the MLAs, who therefore wanted him replaced.In response to Sukhu's allegations that some party lawmakers had been "kidnapped," Ravi Thakur said on Tuesday that he "can go anywhere," presumably alluding to his trip to Panchkula. "Five to six" Congress MLAs, according to Sukhu in Shimla, were "kidnapped" and taken away by the Haryana Police and the CRPF.

Priyanka Gandhi Takes Aim at BJP Over Himachal Issue

Priyanka Gandhi Takes Aim at BJP Over Himachal Issue

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the leader of the Congress party, has taken to attacking the BJP, claiming that the party is working extra hard to topple the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh. Priyanka Gandhi mentioned six of her party's MLAs cross-voting in yesterday's Rajya Sabha election in a post on X, and she questioned how the opposition BJP, which has just 25 MLAs, is competing against the majority party, which has 43 MLAs."The people have the right to select the government of their choice in a democracy. Using this privilege, the people of Himachal Pradesh established the Congress party with a resounding majority. However, through abusing its financial, agency, and central government power, the BJP seeks to subjugate people's rights," Priyanka Gandhi stated in the Hindi post.Last night, the six Congress MLAs were transported to Haryana. Today, they came back to Shimla with three independents. This morning, all nine of them arrived at the assembly in Himachal Pradesh. BJP MLAs greeted them with thumping and slogans.Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu denied rumors of his resignation today and claimed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Haryana Police had abducted the Congress MLAs. "Never before in the nation's history has the BJP used government resources and security for this purpose. It is evident that a party relying on representative horse-trading is dependent on having 25 MLAs challenge the majority of 43 MLAs, according to Priyanka Gandhi.  

The final desire of the Rajiv Gandhi Case Convict to see his mother was not granted.

The final desire of the Rajiv Gandhi Case Convict to see his mother was not granted.

Santhan, one of the seven prisoners released in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, had hoped to return to his native Sri Lanka and care for his ailing mother, but his wish was never fulfilled. Santhan, also known as T Suthendiraraja, 55, passed away today in Chennai from a heart attack. Despite his will to go home, he had been fighting for his life in the hospital for almost a month when his failing health finally got the better of him. Santhan's attorney Pugazhendhi stated that his brother was by his side when he passed away. The counsel further stated that Santhan would be brought to his home in Sri Lanka for the final ceremonies. Santhan could not be sent home as scheduled, even though the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Chennai, issued an order on February 23 to send him to Lanka in his favor and the Supreme Court freed him from prison along with six other convicts in 2022. Santhan was being treated for cryptogenic cirrhosis, a condition for which there is no known cause, at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchirappalli when he was taken in critical condition to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) on January 28.He had fluid in his abdomen, limb swelling, and dyspnea when he was brought to this hospital. Dr. E Theranirajan, dean of RGGGH, stated, "He had a setback in his condition on Tuesday night and he passed away after a cardiac arrest early today." Santhan and others were freed in November 2022, but A G Perarivalan was placed on trial and placed at large by the Supreme Court in May 2022. Due to the assassination case of the former prime minister, all of them have spent more than thirty years behind bars.

Law Panel Might Add Chapter To Constitution, Call For Simultaneous Polls In 2029

Law Panel Might Add Chapter To Constitution, Call For Simultaneous Polls In 2029

Sources said today that the Law Commission is expected to recommend by mid-2029 adding a new chapter on 'one nation, one election' to the Constitution and organizing the massive democratic exercise of simultaneous polling for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies across the nation. According to sources who spoke with Press Trust of India, the Commission, led by Justice (retired) Ritu Raj Awasthi, would suggest amending the Constitution to include a "new chapter or part" on simultaneous elections.Additionally, the panel would suggest synchronizing the terms of legislative assemblies in "three phases" over the course of the following five years, in order to hold the first simultaneous polls in May or June of 2029, which is when the 19th Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to take place.The explanation given was that the new chapter in the Constitution would cover topics such as "simultaneous election", "sustainability of simultaneous elections", and "common electoral roll" for the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, panchayats, and municipalities. This would allow for the holding of the three-tier simultaneous polls "in one go". The proposed new chapter will have the "power of non-extant" to supersede other Constitutional clauses pertaining to assembly terms. The synchronization of assembly terms will occur over a five-year period divided into three phases. According to the Commission's recommendation, the first phase could address state assemblies, whose duration would need to be shortened by three or six months.  

Rajya Sabha Polls Today: How Are Upper House Members Elected? Process Explained

Rajya Sabha Polls Today: How Are Upper House Members Elected? Process Explained

The stage is set for crucial Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday in which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hopes to further increase its strength in the Upper House of Parliament.Out of 56 seats for which the Election Commission announced the poll schedule last month, as many as 41 including former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, BJP chief J P Nadda and new party entrant Ashok Chavan and Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and L Murugan were elected unopposed while the polling on remaining 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 4 in Karnataka and 1 in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka will take place on February 27. The official notification for these elections was issued on February 8, and the deadline for filing nominations was closed on February 15. The term of office for 50 Rajya Sabha MPs representing 13 states is slated to conclude on April 2, while the remaining six members from two states will complete their tenure on April 3. Among 56 seats, Uttar Pradesh has 10, Bihar and Maharashtra have six each, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal have five each, Gujarat and Karnataka have four each, and Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan have three each. Additionally, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand each have one seat. The Rajya Sabha, also known as the Upper House of Parliament, takes inspiration from the United Kingdom’s House of Lords. Presently, it comprises 245 members, with 233 chosen through elections and 12 nominated. According to constitutional provisions, the Upper House’s membership is capped at 250. Out of the 233 elected members, representation is drawn from states and Union Territories (UTs), while the President of India appoints the remaining 12 individuals, who must demonstrate expertise in the realms of art, literature, science, and social services.    

Bengal: Why Mamata Banerjee revived seat-sharing talks with Congress

Bengal: Why Mamata Banerjee revived seat-sharing talks with Congress

After slamming the door hard in the Congress Party’s face, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has returned to the negotiating table to finalise a seat-sharing arrangement with the Grand Old Party in West Bengal, and importantly enough, in a few other states as well. Didi’s change of heart stems from a number of reasons linked to the national political scenario ahead of the announcement of dates for the general elections in mid-March. But the about-turn is, in many senses, a climb-down for the otherwise irrepressible Trinamool Congress which simply loves to punch above its weight and has acquired quite a reputation as a shrewd bargainer. The resumption of talks is, however, of great national importance before Lok Sabha polls as the Congress Party and the Trinamool Congress are the largest and second largest opposition party in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc gearing up to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance. Top leaders of the two parties, including the Congress Party’s Jairam Ramesh, have confirmed that talks have restarted and the doors for an alliance have reopened. A key reason for Mamata suddenly reopening talks with Rahul Gandhi’s party is Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi minister Atishi’s assertion at a press conference last week that Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation or Enforcement Directorate this week unless AAP parts ways with the Congress Party and walks out of the Congress Party-led INDIA bloc to boost the NDA’s poll prospects. If the Trinamool Congress continued to disassociate itself from the Congress Party and refused to revive seat-sharing talks even after Atishi’s revelation that Kejriwal had received threats from the powers that be to choose between going to prison and walking out on the Congress Party, it would have been presumed in political circles that the Trinamool Congress had succumbed to exactly the same threats and dumped the Congress Party in order to shield Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata’s nephew and heir-apparent, who is facing a string of CBI and ED cases but hasn’t been arrested so far.    

BJP was better than Congress but...: Shashi Tharoor predicts ruling partys downward slide in 2024 Lok Sabha polls

BJP was better than Congress but...: Shashi Tharoor predicts ruling partys downward slide in 2024 Lok Sabha polls

Ahead the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor explained where the Congress falls behind the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking at ABP Network's Ideas of India' Summit 3.0, he said on Friday the BJP has been better than the Congress "at the last mile of reaching every voter and knocking on doors, their panna prabhari system, etc. He said politics is about ideas, policies, and issues on one hand, and delivering them to the electorate in a way that gets out the results. "I agree that in the last couple of elections, the BJP has been better than Congress at the last mile of reaching every voter and knocking on doors, their panna prabhari system, etc. They have also been far better funded," he added. Speaking about the BJP, Tharoor said it would be difficult for the BJP to repeat its electoral performance of 2019. He said the BJP's performance peaked in 2019, in many states, and there would be only a "downward slide" in the coming elections. "The 'complacency' of the BJP is the opposition's strength," Shashi Tharoor was quoted by PTI as saying while speaking on 'Collaborative Federalism: View of the States'. Meanwhile, BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, who was part of the panel, said the target for his party in the coming Lok Sabha polls was 370 seats. Tharoor responded by saying, ""They seem to think it is already a done deal and it isn't." He added that there was a great deal of scepticism about whether the BJP would be able to come anywhere close to what it was projecting. Tharoor further explained why he has doubts about the BJP achieving the 300+ target and said that in the 2019 elections, the BJP did "too well" across the Hindi heartland where it is strong. He said after the "wave of enthusiasm after the Ram mandir and so", the BJP's "percentage of votes may go up but there are no seats left to win at any of these places, and the story will vary from state to state". He noted that the BJP won every seat in Haryana, Rajasthan, all but one seat in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, and a large number of seats in West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bihar, Tharoor said. "The percentage of the BJP's votes may rise, but even if there is enthusiasm after the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya, there are no more seats left to win in any of these places, and the story will vary from state to state," he said. "All of them is not possible this time, because it's impossible for them to repeat those numbers. I think they peaked in 2019. We are going to see nothing but a downward slide. How much downhill that is going to be depends on how effective the opposition campaign is, which is just picking up," the Congress leader said. The BJP's tally in the Lok Sabha rose to 303 in 2019. "All of this is not going to happen this time because it is impossible for them to repeat those numbers," Tharoor claimed. "The election hasn't been called yet so we don't know how much time the Opposition has... Don't give up on the Opposition as it could be your next government," Tharoor said. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!      

Political Parties Should Find Solutions to Kashi, Mathura Outside Courts

Political Parties Should Find Solutions to Kashi, Mathura Outside Courts

Ajmer Dargah chief Syed Zainul Abedin said political parties should try to find solutions to disputes such as in Mathura and Kashi outside the courts. Any dispute that is resolved by mutual consent will win the hearts and trust of communities, he said.The Ajmer Dargah chief was addressing a conference titled “Paigam-e-Mohabbat Hum Sab Ka Bharat” organised by the Rajasthan unit of All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council in which heads of almost all the dargahs of Rajasthan were present. Abedin said that India was playing a positive role in restoring peace in the world by following the civilization of Vasudhaiva Kutambakam, a statement issued here said.India is playing its role in world peace, so efforts should be made to resolve the internal issues of our country peacefully outside the courts All that is needed is a strong initiative,” he said. On the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Ajmer Dargah chief also said that in the last few years, Muslims have been misled about the CAA law.    

Congress Has Completed AAP-Seat Share Speed Run Agreement

Congress Has Completed AAP-Seat Share Speed Run Agreement

According to sources who spoke to NDTV on Friday afternoon, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, who this week produced the INDIA bloc's first electoral victory in the Chandigarh mayoral election, have finalized seat-share agreements for the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, and Haryana. The specifics will be disclosed during a press conference later today, but it is believed that the members of the INDIA bloc have decided to divide Delhi's seven seats four ways to three. According to sources, the AAP will run candidates in East, West, and South Delhi in addition to New Delhi, while the Congress will run candidates in Chandi Chowk, North West, and North East Delhi.A deal for Goa, Chandigarh, Gujarat, and Haryana was also reportedly reached, according to reports that NDTV received hours later. Two seats in Gujarat and one each in Chandigarh and Haryana are reportedly included in the agreement.As of right now, the AAP was expected to run for two seats in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi; the Congress was expected to win Chandigarh's lone Lok Sabha seat as well as the seat in South Goa; and the AAP was expected to win at least one seat in Haryana. In the most recent election, the BJP won every one of these, taking all 26 seats in Gujarat and all 10 in Haryana. With just two Lok Sabha seats in Goa, the BJP gained

Courts Cannot Order States To Adopt Specific Plans

Courts Cannot Order States To Adopt Specific Plans

The Supreme Court has ruled that courts cannot order the States to adopt a specific policy or plan on the grounds that a "better, fairer, or wiser" option is available. As a result, the scope of judicial review in examining government policy matters is extremely limited. When a PIL asking for the creation of a plan to establish community kitchens in order to fight hunger and malnutrition was being dismissed, the observation was made. The National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare programs are being implemented by the federal government and individual states, the top court noted, declining to issue any directives in the matter.The legality of the policy—rather than its wisdom or soundness—would be the focus of judicial review, according to a bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal. It is commonly known that the judicial review process has a very narrow scope when it comes to policy matters. The courts are not and cannot assess whether a policy is right, appropriate, or suitable. Neither are they the executive's advisers on matters of policy that the executive has the authority to create. Because there may be a better, more equitable, or more sensible option available, the courts cannot order the States to adopt a specific program or policy," the bench stated."We do not propose to give any further direction in that regard when the National Food Security Act (NFSA), which uses a "right based approach" to provide food and nutritional security, is in effect and other welfare schemes under the said Act have also been framed and implemented by the Union of India and the States to ensure access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity."We have not examined whether the concept of community kitchens is a better or wiser alternative available to the States to achieve the object of NFSA, rather we would prefer to leave it open to the States/UTs to explore such alternative welfare schemes as may be permissible under the NFSA," the court stated. The top court's decision was based on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that was filed by social activists Anun Dhawan, Ishann Singh, and Kunajan Singh. The PIL sought orders for all states and union territories to create a plan for community kitchens in order to fight malnutrition and hunger.

Russia Is A Power With A Vast Statecraft Tradition

Russia Is A Power With A Vast Statecraft Tradition

Speaking on Friday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed current geopolitical developments and their implications. He said that Russia is a power with a rich tradition of statecraft and is turning more towards Asia or non-West parts of the world. Responding to a query regarding Moscow's increasing closeness to Beijing during an interactive session at the Raisina Dialogue, S. Jaishankar stated that it makes sense to offer Russia a variety of options and that pressuring it into choosing one and criticizing it for it would be akin to a self-fulfilling prophecy."I believe that offering Russia a variety of options makes sense. "You are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy if we force Russia into a single option and declare that's really bad because that's the outcome," the speaker stated.These days, it's critical that other nations, particularly those in Asia, communicate with Russia," Mr. Jaishankar stated. "Russia is a powerful nation with a long history of statecraft. Such powers would never enter into a monogamous relationship of that kind. It would not align with their beliefs," he remarked. he external affairs minister was asked to comment on intensification of ties between Russia and China and whether India was uncomfortable with it.The minister of external affairs proposed that Russia and China are becoming closer due to Western policies. "It's kind of funny -- on the one hand you have people who set policies (and) bring the two together and then you say beware of them coming together," he stated. Michael Fullilove, Executive Director of the Australian Lowy Institute, posed the query. Days prior, Mr. Jaishankar claimed that Moscow had never harmed New Delhi's interests and that India and Russia had a "stable" and "very friendly" relationship.

SP-Congress deal sealed in UP: What next for INDIA bloc as clock ticks down to Lok Sabha elections 2024

SP-Congress deal sealed in UP: What next for INDIA bloc as clock ticks down to Lok Sabha elections 2024

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress party have finally agreed on a seat-sharing arrangement for contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as part of the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress will contest 17 seats while the SP and other parties of the alliance will field its candidates in 63 of the 80 parliamentary seats in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh. Also, the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP will contest Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho Lok Sabha seat and will in return support the Congress in the rest of the state’s 29 seats in the state, as part of the deal. The announcement on February 21 is the first seat-sharing agreement of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), an amalgamation of leading opposition parties who have resolved to fight together in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The inaugural meeting of the Opposition coalition was held in Patna on June 23. Eight months since, the alliance has faced many setbacks. The biggest, of course, is from Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, who has now switched his party Janata Dal's (United) allegiance to the NDA. Kumar, who holds a record of sorts for his nine oaths as Bihar CM, was considered the architect of the INDIA bloc.Other blows to the opposition alliance were Jayant Chaudhary's RLD deciding to leave it and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress refusing to enter into an alliance with the Congress in West Bengal.  

In boost to BJP in Odisha, former Naveen aide joins party

In boost to BJP in Odisha, former Naveen aide joins party

The BJP’s Odisha unit got a shot in the arm ahead of the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls after expelled BJD leader and Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy joined the party on Wednesday. The three-time MLA, once considered to be the blue-eyed boy of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was expelled from the BJD for “anti-people” activities in November 2020. Since then, he has been facing multiple cases of alleged corruption and cheating. BJP state president Manmohan Samal claimed Panigrahy has been a “victim of various political situations”, alleging vendetta politics. Welcoming the 60-year-old to the party, Samal said Panigrahy’s entry will strengthen the BJP in the Ganjam district, a BJD stronghold and bastion of CM Patnaik. Ganjam, within which Panigrahy’s Gopalpur seat falls, is the state’s most populous district, with 2 Lok Sabha and 13 Assembly seats. The BJP is yet to announce which seat Panigrahy will contest from, whether in the Lok Sabha or Assembly polls. Panigrahy’s induction into the BJP comes a day before Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to address a rally in the Gopalpur constituency. The Gopalpur MLA, who has been targeting Patnaik and his close aide V K Pandian since he was dismissed from the BJD, mounted a fresh attack immediately after joining the BJP. “A lot of development has taken place in the country under the leadership of PM Modi. The world is today looking at India because of Modiji’s leadership. Time has come for a change in Odisha and to throw away the corrupt government. We will work with the ‘Odia first’ approach,” Panigrahy told reporters.  

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