Modi Expresses Grief On Plane Crash In China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the passenger plane crash in China’s Guangxi on Monday.

PM Modi tweeted, “Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the crash of the passenger flight MU5735 with 132 on board in China’s Guangxi. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the crash and their family members.”

A China Eastern Airlines plane with 133 people on board crashed in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Monday, causing a forest fire, Sputnik reported citing China Central Television (CCTV).

According to CCTV, the search and rescue operations are underway, the Russian News Agency reported. (ANI)

Daughters Of CDS Rawat Receive His Padma Vibhushan Award

India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, who died in a helicopter crash in December last year, was posthumously conferred Padma Vibhushan. His daughters Kritika and Tarini received the award on the CDS’s behalf.

The daughters received the award from President Ram Nath Kovind today.

General Bipin Rawat, who was India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, died in a helicopter crash in December last year. General Rawat’s wife Madhulika Rawat and 12 other defence force personnel had also died in the helicopter crash.

Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz. art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhavan usually around March/ April every year. This year the President has approved conferment of 128 Padma Awards including two duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one).

The list comprises 4 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 107 Padma Shri Awards. 34 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and 13 posthumous awardees. (ANI)

Indian Army Contingent Arrives In Seychelles For Joint Military Exercise

The Indian Embassy in Seychelles said that the Indian Army contingent arrived in Mahe, the largest island of Seychelles, on Monday morning, for the 9th edition of India-Seychelles joint military training, “Exercise LAMITIYE”.

“#LAMITYE22: #IndianArmy contingent arrived on Mahe Island this morning for participating in the 9th edition of Joint exercise LAMITYE-2022, going to be conducted from March 22 to 31 with the #Seychelles Defence Forces,” Indian in Seychelles tweeted.

‘Lamitye’ in the local dialect ‘Creole’ means friendship.

The eighth bilateral exercise between the two nations was held in April 2018.

India and Seychelles have been conducting this joint exercise since 2001 intending to enhance military cooperation and interoperability between the armies of the two countries.

The focus of the ongoing exercise is to conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the semi-urban environment under the United Nations (UN) Charter. (ANI)

BJP’s First Woman Rajya Sabha MP Is From Nagaland

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader S Phangnon Konyak won the Rajya Sabha seat from Nagaland on Monday.

Konyak is the Mahila Morcha president of BJP’s Nagaland unit. It is pertinent to mention that Konyak has become the first woman MP and the first Rajya Sabha MP for the BJP from Nagaland.

She filed her nomination earlier this morning in presence of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and BJP state president Temjen Imna Along.

The election for the lone Nagaland seat was to be held on March 31 but Konyak was elected unopposed to the seat.

Now, elections to three Rajya Sabha seats in two other Northeastern states: two seats in Assam and one each in Tripura are slated for March 31. (ANI)

Modi, Morrison Express Concern Over Myanmar Situation

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison were concerned about the violent situation, protection of the citizens, and humanitarian access in Myanmar during the India-Australia virtual summit on Monday.

Addressing a special briefing following the conclusion of the summit, Foreign Secretary said both sides spoke about supporting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) initiative in Myanmar.

“Both sides were concerned about the violent situation (in Myanmar) and that the civil population should be protected and humanitarian access to Myanmar was also emphasised,” Shringla said.

“We stressed that our relationship with Myanmar is historical and based on people to people ties. Both sides spoke about supporting the ASEAN initiative in Myanmar and the International community must also come together for humanitarian assistance to Myanmar,” Foreign Secretary said today.

The ASEAN’s five-point consensus, which includes dialogue, humanitarian assistance, and an end to violence, was reached last year.

The Myanmar military junta took control of the country following a coup on February 1 last year. Myanmar’s junta has carried out a brutal nationwide crackdown to suppress those opposing military rule.

The junta’s systematic and pervasive abuses, including mass killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) had said.

Since the coup, security forces have killed at least 1,600 people and detained more than 12,000, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Over 500,000 people have been internally displaced since the coup, while tens of thousands have fled as refugees to Thailand and India, the HRW report had further said citing United Nations refugee agency, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) data. (ANI)

Aamir Khan Praises ‘The Kashmir Files’

Actor Aamir Khan has become the latest celebrity to come out in support of filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s latest film ‘The Kashmir Files’, which revolves around the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990.

On Sunday, Aamir visited the national capital to attend a fan event for the SS Rajamouli directorial ‘RRR’.

On being asked by the media if he had watched ‘The Kashmir Files’, Aamir said in Hindi, “Ji zaroor dekhunga main…Wo ek history ka aisa hissa hain jo dil dukta hain usme…jo Kashmiri Pandits k sath hua hain, wo dukh ka baat hain…aur aise film jo bani hain uss topic pe woh yakennan har Hindustandi ko dekhna chaiye (Yes, I will definitely see. The story is a part of our history and whatever happened with the Kashmiri Pandits was really sad. Any film on such a topic must be seen by all Indians).”

He added, “This film has touched the emotions of all people who believe in humanity and that is what is so beautiful about it. I will definitely watch the film and I am happy to see that the film is successful.”

‘The Kashmir Files’, which has crossed Rs 150 crore mark at the box office so far, features Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty, Darshan Kumaar, Puneet Issar, Mrinal Kulkarni and others. (ANI)

Mallikarjun Dubs AIMIM BJP’s ‘B Team’, Rejects Alliance

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday dismissed the possibility of an alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and dubbed it as Bharatiya Janata Party’s “B-team”.

Slamming AIMIM, Kharge said that Congress needs to be cautious of such parties which try to defeat “secular parties”.
“Congress has not yet received any proposal (of an alliance),” Kharge told ANI.

A strategy for an alliance is decided within the party, he said, adding that “there is a need to be cautious of such parties which attempt to defeat secular parties.”

Kharge further alleged that the AIMIM is working at the behest of the BJP.

His remarks come after Shiv Sena also termed AIMIM as BJP’s “B team” while rejecting scope for an alliance with AIMIM.

Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Rout also rejected the possibility of AIMIM’s alliance with Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), saying “those who bow before the grave of Aurangzeb cannot become Maharashtra’s ideal”.

“Maharashtra government is formed by three parties, Shiv Sena, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party. There will be no inclusion of any fourth party,” Raut said.

The AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel steered the alliance discussions after he said that the party is willing to enter into an alliance with Congress and the NCP in the upcoming Maharashtra civic polls in order to defeat the BJP.

“The AIMIM is always held responsible for the BJP’s victory. It is said that we are ‘B’ team of the BJP, so we gave them (Congress) an offer to form an alliance with us. Since they are with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, they’ll never agree to form an alliance with us,” Jaleel had said. (ANI)

Educational Concerns Of Evacuated Students: Centre To SC

The Central government on Monday told the Supreme Court that the Government of India has evacuated 22,500 students from conflict-ridden Ukraine and it is also looking into the educational concerns of the evacuated students.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana was informed by the Attorney General of India KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre that students have given representation to the government on the issue of continuation of their studies and the government is looking into it and will make a decision.

“A mammoth task has been completed,” AG told the apex court adding that along with Indian nationals, nationals from other countries have been evacuated by the government.

The apex court then closed the two petitions pending before it on the issue.

“Both these writ petitions were filed seeking reliefs… Attorney General has made submissions, all students are brought back to India and nothing survives. Petitioner counsel submits that government has to consider studies of students who have not completed their studies due to the war. Attorney General submits government is considering this issue. The case is accordingly closed,” the bench said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court expressed concern for the lives of students caught in the middle of the conflict zone in Ukraine. The Centre had said that government efforts have resulted in the swift evacuation of Indians from Ukraine.

The apex court had suggested to the government to open helplines so the students or their families can communicate.

The government of India is equally concerned as the Supreme Court is and is leaving no stone unturned to bring the citizens back, AG had told the top court.

The petition filed by Ahana claimed that over 250 students stranded in Ukraine were looking for hope towards the Government of India.

The plea sought direction from the government “to secure permission to cross the checkpoint in Moldova from Ukraine en route to Romania for boarding the Air India evacuation flight, and to immediately take effective diplomatic steps and measures for the evacuation of the Petitioner including other stranded students from Ukraine.”

Another petition was filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, seeking directions for the protection of thousands of students and families who are stranded in Ukraine in wake of the ongoing conflict. (ANI)

AAP Nominates Harbhajan, Raghav Chadha To RS

After a thumping victory in Punjab Assembly polls, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday announced that it has nominated former cricketer Harbhajan Singh and Delhi MLA Raghav Chadha to Rajya Sabha from Punjab.

Harbhajan made his debut in 1998 and the last international match he played was in 2016 but official retirement was announced in 2021.
Chadha is an MLA from Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar and party’s co-incharge in Punjab.

Besides these two, Aam Aadmi Party has nominated Dr Sandeep Pathak to Rajya Sabha. He camped in Punjab for nearly three years and formed an organization at the booth level.

Aam Aadmi Party also nominated Chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU), Ashok Mittal to the Upper House. He is known for his work in the field of education – one category of the poll promises of AAP – and social services.

Aam Aadmi Party also nominated founder of Krishna Pran Breast Cancer Care Charitable Trust, Sanjiv Arora to Rajya Sabha.

AAP swept the recent state Assembly elections securing 92 of the 117-member House.

The five Punjab vacancies are arising due to the term of the following Rajya Sabha MPs ending on April 9. The last day for filing the nominations is Monday.

Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and SS Dullo, BJP’s Shwait Malik, SAD’s Naresh Gujral and SS Dhindsa from SAD-Sanyukt are the five Rajya Sabha MPs whose term is approaching the end.

In all, Punjab has seven seats in the Upper House.

The term of SAD’s Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Congress leader Ambika Soni, who are also Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab, will end on July 4. Elections to these two seats would be held later this year. (ANI)

President Kovind To Confer Padma Awards For 2022 Today

President Ram Nath Kovind will confer Padma awards for the year 2022 on Monday.

As per Rashtrapati Bhavan’s press release, President Kovind will confer two Padma Vibhushan, eight Padma Bhushan and 54 Padma Shri Awards at the Civil Investiture Ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Amongst the prominent awardees at today’s Investiture ceremony will be Padma Vibhushan recipients Radhey Shyam and General Bipin Rawat (Posthumous).

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Gurmeet Bawa (Posthumous), N Chandrasekharan, Devendra Jhajharia, Rashid Khan, Rajiv Mehrishi, Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and Sachchidanand Swami will receive the Padma Bhushan awards.

The Civil Investiture Ceremony -II is scheduled to be held on March 28.

The Awards are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

These Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.

The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

The awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

As per the release, this year a total of 128 Padma Awards are being conferred, including two duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one).

The list of awardees comprises four Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 107 Padma Shri Awards.

34 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of Foreigners/ NRI/ PIO/ OCI and 13 Posthumous awardees. (ANI)