President Droupadi Murmu has arrived in Suriname on her first state visit to the South American nation.
“In a special gesture, President @CSantokhi of Suriname received the President at the airport with full state honours, ” Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a tweet late Sunday.
In the first leg of her visit (June 4 to 6), the president will hold talks with Suriname leaders and meet a cross-section of Indian Diaspora in capital city Paramaribo.
The visit will further strengthen the deep-rooted ties between India and Suriname, official sources said.
Her visit comes on the invitation of her Surinamese counterpart Chandrikapersad Santokhi.
During the visit, she will hold special talks with President Santokhi and will also participate in several activities.
President Murmu will leave for Serbia on June 7 at the invitation of President Aleksandar Vucic.
New Delhi : With the date of next ‘mahapanchayat’, only of wrestlers, to be announced in three-four days, a ‘mahapanchayat’ was held on Sunday at Mundlana in Haryana’s Sonipat, a third in a series in four days and the second in Haryana, to express solidarity with wrestlers protesting against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over charges of sexual harassment.
Top wrestlers comprising Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia have been protesting since April 23, demanding action against Brij Bhushan.
Speaking at the ‘mahapanchayat’, Bajrang Punia said, “When we go out in the public, we get new energy. People’s cooperation is our strength. Today our daughters (wrestlers) are mentally shattered. On May 28, you people tried to reach (at our protest site) but the police stopped you. We can’t win by being different and we appeal to all organisations to unite. We will hold a ‘amahapanchayat’ and will take a major decision in it. You will be informed about the place and time of the ‘mahapanchayat’ of wrestlers in three-four days.”
Beside Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni, it was attended by former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, among other prominent people.
Earlier, Malik visited the Jantar Mantar in Delhi and interacted with wrestlers on April 26 and said “the support needs to grow because this fight is not just theirs — it is for all women in our country.”
Farmers and representative of Khap panchayats, from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh gathered in numbers in Sonipat to expressing solidarity and to send out a message to the BJP government in the Centre to arrest Singh.
Two days ago, farmers and representatives of Khap panchayats (community courts) gave the BJP government in the Centre an ultimatum to arrest Singh by June 9 or prepare for a larger protest.
A collective and unanimous decision in this regard was taken at the ‘mahapanchayat’ held in Haryana’s Kurukshetra town on the future strategy of wrestlers’ protest.
On June 1, a ‘mahapanchayat’ was held in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar where it was decided that a delegation would meet President Droupadi Murmu to seek justice for the wrestlers.
In Kurukshetra, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait warned the Central government that if no action is taken against Brij Bhushan by June 9, they will hold a larger protest along with the wrestlers.
“We have taken a decision that the government must address the grievances of wrestlers and he should be arrested, otherwise we will go with wrestlers to Jantar Mantar, Delhi, on June 9 and will hold panchayats across the nation, ” he had said.
At the same time, Tikait warned the Central government that if they aren’t allowed to protest at Jantar Mantar on June 9, “there will be an announcement of agitation.”
The farmer leader also demanded that cases against the wrestlers, who were manhandled and detained during their march towards the new Parliament building, should be withdrawn.
Bhubaneswar: The death toll in the train tragedy that took place at Bahanaga in Balasore district on May 2 has risen to 288 with nearly 1000 injured and being treated in different hospitals of the state. Efforts are on to identify the bodies, a challenging task.
The accident that took place at Bahanaga bazar railway station, barely 40 kms from Balasore, involved three trains. It all began with the Shalimar-Coromandel Express, which was running towards Chennai, ramming into a goods train that was standing on the same track at the station. The impact of the collision resulted in 15 bogies of Coromandel Express getting derailed and falling on the parallel track.
Things got further complicated as the Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express going towards Howrah was coming on the same track on which the detached and damaged bogies of the Coromandel Express were lying. The Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express hit the fallen bogies of Coromandel Express and two of its bogies got derailed in the process.
The impact of the collision between these trains was so severe that not only the derailed bogies got smashed and crushed even the railway track suffered extensive damage for a long distance. By June 3 evening 288 bodies had been officially retrieved from the mangled bogies while nearly 1000 injured persons were rushed to various hospitals including the medical college hospitals at Cuttack and Balasore.
Prime Minister Narenxdra Modi visited the accident site on May 3 alongwith railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav and union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Prime Minister also visited the Balasore hospital where he met the people injured in the accident which is the biggest railway mishap to have occurred in the history of Odisha. This is also one of the most gruesome accidents in the history of the country.
While the railway ministry has ordered an inquiry there is a lot of speculation about the causes of the accident which has shaken the conscience of the entire nation. Sources said that Coromandel Express which was coming on the same track on which the goods train was standing should have changed track. But something went wrong with signalling and the track could not be changed which resulted in the tragedy. The Prime Minister said that anyone responsible for the tragedy will not be spared.
At the same time there is also speculation about possible sabotage. However, there is no concrete evidence as yet to establish this angle. The challenge before the government now is to identify the dead bodies and keep them in morgues till the process of identification is completed.
Prime minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of veteran Hindi and Marathi film actor Sulochana who passed away on Sunday.
“The passing of Sulochana Ji leaves a big void in the world of Indian cinema. Her unforgettable performances have enriched our culture and have endeared her to people across generations. Her cinematic legacy will live on through her works. Condolences to her family. Om Shanti, ” Modi tweeted.
Considered to be one of the most recognisable onscreen mother along with her contemporary Nirupa Roy, Sulochana played the role of a mother to several top lead actors across generations from Dev Anand to Jackie Shroff.
Sulochana, who featured in more than 250 Hindi and 50 Marathi films, passed away on Sunday due to age related issues. She was 94.
She began her career with Marathi films in the early 1940s and soon moved to Hindi films, where she essayed several mother roles in movies like Shammi Kapoor’s “Dil Dekhe Dekho”, Dilip Kumar’s “Aadmi” and Dev Anand’s “Johnny Mera Naam” among several others.
Jammu and Kashmir government has canceled the Jammu and Kashmir Mutton law whereby it controlled mutton and chicken prices.
.The decision comes after the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution informed the J&K government that the previous directive was no longer valid and applicable.
Consequently, the Directorates of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs in Jammu and Srinagar have been instructed to refrain from issuing or enforcing any pricing-related orders.
The issue of controlling mutton and chicken prices in J&K has long been a contentious matter between the government and mutton traders. The recent notification’s issuance raises questions about who will now be responsible for regulating the pricing of these commodities.
The cost of mutton has risen by over 50 percent since 2019. Despite a government-approved price of Rs 535 per kg, it was previously sold for Rs 400 per kg four years ago and is currently being sold for Rs 650. The absence of price controls imposed by the government has worried consumers, as they fear that prices may skyrocket in the absence of regulations.
J&K, which imports around 350 lakh kg of mutton primarily from Delhi and Rajasthan, consumes over 600 lakh kg of mutton annually. Prior to the notification, mutton prices in Kashmir were comparatively lower, with Rs 535 per kg, while Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat had prices ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 750 per kg.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has once again launched a blistering attack on the BJP-led Central government, saying that the ruling party polarises society and are not inclusive and that is damaging India.
Addressing the media here on Thursday, the former MP said: “They sought to generate a certain amount of hate, polarise society and they are not inclusive.”
Criticising the BJP, he alleged: “They brace everybody and divide society and that’s damaging India.”
He said that India has a tradition of conversation of openness.
Citing examples of great leaders, spiritual and political personalities, he added that they (Congress) promoted peace, harmony and conversation.
“So its in our culture, tradition and history to bring people together and have these dialogues and I think it is the difference between us (Congress) and them (BJP). We feel that India should be allowed to express and we feel that political leaders should be comfortable when questioned and should learn from that question. It’s just the difference, ” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader was responding to a query when asked that the BJP engages in hatred and violence.
To another query about the press freedom in India and the arrest of a senior journalist on charges of espionage, Gandhi said, “I think there is a weakening of press freedom and it is not hidden and it is apparent in India, the rest of the world can see it.”
Asserting that press freedom is very important for India, he said, “One should be open to criticism and one should listen to criticism and that’s the feedback that builds democracy. On multiple access there is a clampdown on institutions that allowed the Indian people to talk and negotiate. I view India as a negotiation between people, different languages, different cultures etc. and architectures that Mahatma Gandhi set up was to allow that negotiation to be carried out fairly and freely.”
“And that structure that allows the negotiation between India’s people is going under pressure, ” he added.
To another query on the Opposition unity, the Congress leader, who is on a six-day visit to the US, said, “The opposition is pretty well united, and its getting more and more united.”
He noted that “we are having conversations with all the opposition”.
“I think quite a lot of good work is happening there. Its a complicated discussion because there are spaces where we are competing with the opposition. So a bit of give and take is required. But I am confident it will happen, ” Gandhi said on the Opposition unity.
Asked about the Citizenship law, the former Congress Chief added that he thinks that all Indian people have a right to expression, religious freedom.
“All should feel free to express themselves. I don’t differentiate between any community and any caste. I think India is a conversation and the freer and more open the conversation becomes, India will become more powerful, ” he noted.
Gandhi is also scheduled to participate in several programmes during his US tour.
He has already delivered a lecture at the Stanford University and also interacted with the Indian diaspora in San Francisco.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said that the successful conclusion of the third tourism working group meeting of the G20 countries in Jammu and Kashmir served as a lesson for those who have consistently attempted to create unrest in the region.
“The tourism meeting of the G20 countries concluded on May 25. The successful G20 meeting in J-K is not only a matter of happiness for the country, but a huge lesson for those who have frequently tried to create trouble in J-K,” Sinha said, addressing a function at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar.
Speaking about the participation of a large number of individuals in the meeting, Sinha attributed it to the positive changes that have taken place in the union territory since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed leadership in 2019, particularly with the abrogation of Article 370.
“Jammu and Kashmir has come a long way, and places like Shopian or Pulwama districts in south Kashmir, which the country knew for other reasons, saw the participation of more than 10,000 youths in the Tiranga yatra,” the LG said while highlighting the progress Jammu and Kashmir has made, citing the example of Shopian and Pulwama districts in south Kashmir. “These youths chanted ‘Bharat mata ki ai’ carrying Tiranga in their hands. This is the change Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed in the last three years,” he added while emphasizing that Jammu and Kashmir will not only integrate further with India but also make significant contributions to India’s development
New Delhi- The government’s fiscal deficit moderated slightly to 6.4 per cent of the GDP in 2022-23 from 6.71 per cent in the corresponding period, according to the revenue-expenditure data released on Wednesday.
The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) said that the fiscal deficit in absolute terms was Rs 17, 33, 131 crore (provisional), which was marginally down from the amount projected in the revised estimates (RE) in the budget.
The CGA added that the government received Rs 24.56 lakh crore (101 per cent of corresponding RE 2022-23 of total receipts) during 2022-23.
This comprised Rs 20.97 lakh crore tax revenue (Net to Centre), Rs 2.86 lakh crore of non-tax revenue and Rs 72, 187 crore of non-debt capital receipts.
Non-debt capital receipts consist of the recovery of loans and miscellaneous capital receipts.
About Rs 9.48 lakh crore has been transferred to state governments as devolution of taxes by the Central government, which is Rs 50, 015 crore higher than the previous year (2021-22). The CGA data further revealed that the Centre’s total expenditure was Rs 41.89 crore (100 per cent of corresponding RE 2022-23), out of which Rs 34.52 lakh crore was on the revenue account and Rs 7.36 lakh crore on the capital account.
Amritsar : A radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa has given a call for Amritsar bandh on June 6 to mark the 39th anniversary of army attack on Darbar Sahib and other Sikh gurdwaras in Amritsar in the first week of June 1984.
Dal Khalsa has put up hoardings and posters across the city in light of the anniversary of attack codenamed Operation Blue Star which took place between June 1 and 8 in 1984. Youth activists distributed pamphlets among masses to seek their support for bandh.
Kanwar Pal Singh said that to commemorate the day, a Holocaust remembrance parade would be held in the city on June 5 evening.
The pain of the attack is still fresh and the wounds of the attack still simmer,” said the leader of the group.
He said the Indian state found a military solution to the Punjab problem, which was political in nature.
Muzaffarnagar- The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has convened a ‘mahapanchayat’ at Sauram village in Muzaffarnagar district on Thursday to discuss issues regarding the ongoing protest by wrestlers and evolve a strategy for the same.
Khap and farmer leaders from UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Punjab will be attending the event.
The protesting wrestlers, however, will not attend the Maha panchayat.
Sarv khap (an umbrella body of khaps) secretary Subhash Balyan said, “As many as 365 khaps are there in India, and we have informed all of them over phone and also on Facebook. A total of 28 khaps from western UP — such as Balyan, Deshwal, Rathi, Nirwal, Panwar, Beniwal Hudda, Latian, Ghatian, Ahlawat, etc — will join the panchayat.”
Naresh Tikait, who is also the chief of Balyan khap, said that “If the government wants, this dispute can end immediately. The khaps want Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, BJP MP Bhushan arrested, and the court of law should decide the matter.”
On Tuesday, some of the country’s top wrestlers — including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, and Asian Games champion Vinesh Phogat — accompanied by hundreds of supporters had gathered on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar, threatening to immerse their World and Olympic medals in the holy river, but refrained after khap and farmer leaders convinced them not to do so. The khap leaders have sought five days’ time to address their grievances.
