Author: LokMarg

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the BIMSTEC member states must collectively combat terrorism and violent extremism as he emphasized India’s commitment to intensify, expand areas of cooperation, especially connectivity, energy and maritime.

“Participated at the 18th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Colombo today. Thank FM Prof. GL Peiris for his hospitality. Emphasized our commitment to intensify and expand areas of cooperation, especially connectivity, energy and maritime cooperation,” EAM Jaishankar tweeted.
Speaking at the 18th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Colombo, Jaishankar said that much of what grouping can achieve in our national development efforts is, of course, predicated on a peaceful, secure and stable environment.

“We cannot ignore the challenges that terrorism and violent extremism, as also transnational crime and narco-trafficking or indeed new challenges such as cyber-attacks, pose to all of us,” EAM said in a statement.

“All of these affect our economic development efforts. We need to put in place the remaining elements of the legal architecture that will enable our law enforcement agencies to collaborate more closely and more effectively,” he added.

The Bay of Bengal achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 targets and ensuring a “good order at sea” in keeping with international maritime law, particularly UNCLOS is a priority.

He also said that a practical way to proceed is to have discussions using existing dialogue mechanisms, even while we put in place a plan of action in the maritime domain which is consistent with our national priorities.

Asserting that the international system is going through a very challenging phase, perhaps one of the most difficult in recent memory. “The challenges of COVID-19 pandemic have not yet fully abated. But recent developments in Ukraine have added to international disquiet,” he said in the statement.

Addressing the gathering including fellow Foreign Ministers, he emphasised the acceleration of the efforts to boost intra BIMSTEC trade and economic ties.

He said: “tomorrow our leaders will adopt the BIMSTEC Charter. This is a land mark achievement in our effort to develop the institutional architecture for BIMSTEC. But we must not rest on this achievement and instead move on to ‘next steps’ that can be taken to further strengthen BIMSTEC. I am confident that we will identify priority institution building tasks & areas of cooperation, and task our senior officials to work with the Secretary General for their realization.”

EAM noted that on Wednesday, the group leaders will also adopt a BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity which provides a framework that can help the grouping better align thier national transportation and connectivity networks.

“It must be fully backed by energetic business collaboration. We must also accelerate efforts on ongoing initiatives such as the establishment of a coastal shipping eco system, of port facilities, of ferry services in the Bay of Bengal, as also power grid interconnectivity and a regional motor vehicles agreement,” he said.

Welcoming Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand as the incoming BIMSTEC Chair.

“India looks forward to working with you Sir and your country, during the course of your Chairmanship to take the BIMSTEC agenda forward,” he said further.

In concluding the speech, EAM Jaishankar said that India will bring to bear all relevant policies and approaches – one, as Neighbourhood First, give it the utmost priority; two, in consonance with our SAGAR outlook, realize its full maritime potential; and three, as a first responder, be it on HADR situations, COVID-19 or economic recovery, be there at critical times for all of us. (ANI)

In a major capability boost for the indigenous LCA Tejas combat aircraft, the Indian Air Force is equipping them with American Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits which would help them target enemy positions with pinpoint accuracy.

The Indian Air Force had recently signed a contract for the JDAM kits which help air to ground bombs to attack their targets with precision at distances of over 80 kms, government sources told ANI here.

The first fleet to be equipped with these JDAMs would be that of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas which is going to be one of the mainstays of the force in the future, the sources said.

The capability would give a further edge to the homegrown aircraft over the adversary aircraft as they would be able to destroy targets from standoff distances, they said.

The Indian Air Force had recently equipped the Tejas with the French-origin Hammer air to ground stand-off missile along with the indigenous Astra indigenous air to air missiles.

Indian armed forces have extensively utilised the delegated financial powers granted to them in different phases by the government to equip themselves with the necessary weaponry to handle any conflict or aggression by enemies on both sides.

The Indian Air Force is strongly supporting the indigenous LCA Tejas fighter aircraft programme by adding more and more capabilities to the aircraft.

The IAF has already operationalised two of its squadrons in the initial operational clearance and final operational clearance versions while a contract has been signed for the 83 Mark1As set to be delivered a couple of years from now.

The IAF has also its eyes set on the LCA Mark 2 and the AMCA being developed by the DRDO for it. (ANI)

Jr NTR is overjoyed with the massive success of ‘RRR’, being showered with appreciation from audiences and proving to be a blockbuster at the box office.

On Tuesday, the co-lead who plays Komaram Bheem in the hit film, penned a special message, thanking everyone who made ‘RRR’ possible.

He began, “All of you heaped praises on ‘RRR’ and showered us with love since the film’s release. I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who made ‘RRR’, a landmark film in my career, possible.”

Thanking director SS Rajamouli, he wrote, “Thank you Jakkanna for inspiring me to give my best. You truly brought out the best in me and made me feel like water, versatile. You pished me as an actor and made me mould into my character and all his layers with great ease and conviction.”

For Ram Charan, he shared that his own role would have been incomplete without him.

“Charan, my brother, I can’t imagine acting in RRR without you. No one else could have done justice to the role of Alluri Sitarama Raju. Not only RRR, but Bheem would have been incomplete without you. Thank you for being the fire to my water,” he continued.

Mentioning Ajay Devgn, he expressed, “It was an honour to work with the legendary Ajay Sir and I will greatly cherish this memory forever.”

Next, he showered appreciation for Alia Bhatt.

He wrote, “Alia, you’re a powerhouse of an actor and have added incredible strength to the film with your presence. Keep soaring.”

The note continued which he signed off by thanking his audience for their unconditional love and support.

“Last but not least, I would like to thank my fans from the bottom of my heart. Your unconditional love and support fueled me to give my best even in the most challenging times of Covid-19. I promise to entertain you all with many more films,” he concluded.

In just three days of its release, ‘RRR’ crossed Rs 500 crore worldwide gross box office collection.

The magnum opus also became India’s biggest-ever opener with Rs 223 crore worldwide, after overtaking ‘Baahubali 2’, which had made Rs 217 crore worldwide on its opening day.

Set in pre-independence India, ‘RRR’ is a fictional take on the younger days of celebrated freedom fighters, Komaram Bheem and Alluri Seetharama Raju, portrayed by Jr. NTR and Ram Charan.

The movie also features Samuthirakani, Olivia Morris, Alison Doody, and Ray Stevenson. (ANI)

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday informed the Lok Sabha that 34 persons from outside Jammu and Kashmir have bought properties in the Union Territory (UT) after the abrogation of Article 370 from the erstwhile state.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai shared the details in a written reply to a query of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Hazi Fazlur Rehman.

Asked whether the Minister of Home Affairs be pleased to state “the number of people from outside Jammu and Kashmir who have bought a property in this UT after the abrogation of Article 370, the Minister said. “As per the information provided by the government of Jammu and Kashmir, 34 persons from outside the Jammu and Kashmir have bought properties in UT of J-K after the abrogation of Article 370.”

“The properties are located in Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur and Ganderbal districts,” said the Minister.

Before August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was not abrogated from Jammu and Kashmir, the erstwhile state had special status and only permanent residents were able to purchase land and properties there.

The central government had abrogated Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories– Jammu and Kashmir with an Assembly and Ladakh without one.

After the abrogation of Article 370, the Union government changed the laws for procurement of land and properties in the Union Territories of J-K and Ladakh and new land procurement laws were formed thereafter. (ANI)

The visit of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to India has been postponed and will be rescheduled, Muhamed Heib, spokesperson of the Israel Embassy in India said on Tuesday.

On Monday, it was reported that Naftali Bennett had tested positive for COVID-19. Israel had earlier announced Bennett’s first India visit after assuming office as Prime Minister last year.

Bennett was scheduled to visit India during April 3-5, on the occasion of the commemoration of 30 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in an official statement.

Bennett had planned to visit India from April 3-5 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in the official statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart had earlier met on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow in November last year. They also had a telephonic conversation on August 16, 2021.

India and Israel elevated their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Israel in July 2017.

Since then, the two countries have continued to deepen their strategic partnership, with a focus on innovation and research, read the statement.

“The visit by the Prime Minister of Israel is expected to further strengthen our excellent bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, including agriculture, water, trade, education and science and technology,” the statement had said.

Israel is experiencing a modest increase in COVID-19 infections as an omicron spreads there as in many other countries. Bennett and nearly half of Israel have received three vaccinations, according to the Washington Post. (ANI)

Assam and Meghalaya governments are set to sign an agreement here in the national capital on Tuesday evening to resolve their 50-year-old pending boundary difference.

Officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs told ANI that the agreement will be signed by the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah at around 3.30 pm in the office of the MHA.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma would sign the agreement in the presence of chief secretaries of both the states as well as other officials of these states and the officials of MHA.

There is an indication of a final round of discussion with the MHA before the actual Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between Assam and Meghalaya.

A draft resolution was submitted by the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on January 31 for examination and consideration by the MHA. The governments of Assam and Meghalaya had come up with a draft resolution to resolve their border disputes in six of the 12 “areas of difference” along the 884-km boundary.

According to the proposed recommendations for the 36.79 square km of land, Assam will keep 18.51 square km and give the remaining 18.28 square km to Meghalaya.

The final agreement between Assam and Meghalaya is significant as the boundary dispute between the two states has been pending for a very long time.

The long-standing land dispute was sparked in 1972 when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam. The border issues came about as a result of different readings of the demarcation of boundaries in the initial agreement for the new state’s creation. (ANI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ramesh Tawadkar has been elected as the Speaker of the Goa assembly on Tuesday.

In the election for Assembly Speaker, Tawadkar won by getting 24 votes against Congress’s Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira who could secure only 15 votes.

Yesterday, Pramod Sawant took oath as the Goa Chief Minister for the second consecutive term at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium.

Sawant has assured that the newly-formed government will work for the development with a primary focus on providing employment opportunities in the coastal state.

Sawant also assured that the party will work for boosting the tourism sector in the state and will also resume mining activities, which would automatically lead to an increase in jobs for youth.

The CM also exuded his confidence in the ruling party of Goa by saying that the BJP will give a “stable and able” government to Goa under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After CM Pramod Sawant, Vishwajeet Rane, Mauvin Godinho, Ravi Naik, Nilesh Cabral, Subhash Shirodkar, Rohan Khaunte, Atanasio Monserrate, and Govind Gaude also took oath as cabinet ministers on Monday.

BJP emerged as the single largest party in Goa, winning 20 seats in the 40-member state Assembly and reducing Congress to 11 seats. It fell one seat short of the majority figure in Goa but is set to retain power in the state with the help of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and independent candidates. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reiterated the Bharatiya Janata Party’s commitment to empowering women and said that under the PM Awas Yojana, women also have ownership rights to two crore houses.

During a virtual address at the ‘Grih Pravesham’ of about 5.21 lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin in Madhya Pradesh, PM Modi said, “Women too have the ownership rights of around two crore houses built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.”

“This right has strengthened the participation of women in making other financial decisions in the household. This is a matter of case study in big universities across the world,” he added.

The Prime Minister also said that to solve the problems faced by women, the Centre has taken the initiative to provide water to every household.

“Be it the BJP government in the Centre, or BJP government in the states, walking with the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ all of them are working to empower the poor,” PM Modi said.

Talking of Centre’s ‘Har Ghar Jal Yojna’, PM Modi said that over six crore families across India have been supplied clean drinking water.

“We are very close to supplying water through a pipeline to 50 lakh rural families in Madhya Pradesh in comparison to 13 lakh families before,” he added.

Taking a sweep at Congress, PM Modi said that some political parties raised a lot of slogans to eliminate poverty but did not do enough to empower the poor.

“I believe when the poor get empowered, it gives them the courage to fight poverty. When efforts of an honest government come together with that of an empowered poor, poverty loses,” he said. (ANI)

Two persons were arrested with 600 grams of Brown sugar worth Rs 1 crore 10 lakh (1,10,00,000) at Old Matigara Road, Siliguri on Monday. A Joint police team of the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Siliguri arrested them.

“After complying with the procedures laid down under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 600g of Brown Sugar in two plastic pouches (300g in each pouch) was recovered from the possession of the accused,” said CP Gaurav Sharma, Old Matigara Road.

“Acting on a specific tip, the SOG led by the Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SPC) and Matigara Police Station apprehended the accused Md Based and Sk Abbu Kasem,” he added.

The investigation against the accused has been started at Matigara Police Station, from where they will be presented before the Ld court on Tuesday.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)