Month: September 2021

Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh reached the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah here on Wednesday amid a fresh crisis in the ruling Congress in the state.

Amarinder Singh, who stepped down as Chief Minister earlier this month, had reached Delhi on Tuesday.
The Congress leader had told reporters on his arrival in the national capital that he had come to Delhi to vacate Kapurthala House. He had also said that he was not going to meet any political leader.

“I am here to vacate Kapurthala House (the official residence of Punjab Chief Minister in New Delhi). I am not going to meet any politician here,” he had told reporters.

Singh’s visit to Delhi has coincided with Congress in Punjab reeling under fresh crisis following resignation of PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday. A minister and some other leaders considered loyal to Sidhu also subsequently resigned.

Capt Amarnider Singh had taken a dig at Sidhu over his resignation, saying that he is not a stable man.

“I told you so…he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of Punjab,” Amarinder Singh had said in a tweet.

While stepping down as chief minister, Amarinder Singh had slammed the party leadership saying he had been let down.

The former chief minister had also said that he felt “humiliated” adding that he had been summoned thrice by the central leadership in the past two months

His media advisor Raveen Thukral had played down his visit to Delhi.

“Too much being read into Cap Amarinder Singh’s visit to Delhi. He’s on a personal visit, during which he’ll meet some friends and also vacate Kapurthala house for the new CM. No need for any unnecessary speculation,” Thukral said in a tweet yesterday.

Sidhu was made PCC chief by Congress leadership in July to stem infighting in Punjab Congress ahead of next year’s assembly polls but the party is now grappling with a fresh crisis. (ANI)

Amid a political crisis in Punjab Congress, Senior party leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday asserted that they are unaware of who is taking the decisions in the party as there is no president.

“In our party, there is no president so we don’t know who is taking these decisions. We know and yet we don’t know,” said the Congress leader in a press conference today again raising questions on the delay in the election of the party president.
A delegation of 23 members (G-23) of Congress last year wrote a letter to the party’s interim President Sonia Gandhi demanding a slew of organisational reforms.

“We are not “Jee Huzoor 23″. It is very clear. We will keep talking. We will continue to reiterate our demands,” Sibal said while expressing resentment over the functioning of the party and said it is ironic that those who were considered to be close to the high command have left them and the others are still standing by.

Speaking about the letter written by G-23 leader, he said that they are waiting for actions to be taken with respect to electing the guard of the party.

“I’m speaking to you (media) on behalf of those Congressmen who wrote the letter in August last year and are waiting for the actions to be taken by our leadership in respect of the election of the office of the president, to Congress Working Committee and central election committee,” he said.

Congress on Tuesday witnessed a dramatic turn of events after Navjot Singh Sidhu tendered his resignation from the post of Punjab Congress chief. Soon after, three other leaders and a minister of the state also submitted their resignation to the top leadership.

Not just Punjab Congress, but more recently, some other leaders have also left the party including former Goa Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro, who joined Trinamool Congress (TMC) today. In August this year, Sushmita Dev also quit the party and joined TMC.

“We (leaders of G-23) are not the ones who will leave the party and go anywhere else. It is ironic. Those who were close to them (party leadership) have left and those whom they don’t consider to be close to them are still standing with them,” said Sibal.

Reflecting on the ongoing turmoil within the party, Sibal said that the party must remain united.

“A border state (Punjab) where this is happening to Congress party means what? It is an advantage to ISI and Pakistan. We know the history of Punjab and the rise of extremism there… Congress should ensure that they remain united,” he said.

He further said, “Every Congressman of the country should think as to how the party can be strengthened. Those who have left should come back because Congress alone can save this Republic.” (ANI)

After the Taliban’s take over of Afghanistan, the relations between the outfit and Pakistan will be not as easy as hoped in Islamabad and the Durand-Line will remain as a ‘severe issue of content’ between both countries, according to Siegfried O. Wolf, Director of Research at the South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF).

This assertion was made by Wolf during a webinar titled ‘After Kabul’ on September 24. Wolf stated that considering the manifold support offered to the Taliban during the last two decades, Pakistan has reason to anticipate a friendly regime in Kabul.

“There are also reasons to believe that the relations between the Taliban government and Pakistan will be not as easy as hoped in Islamabad.” Wolf stated that the Durand-Line will remain as a ‘severe issue of content’ between both countries and added that the Afghan Taliban does not support Pakistani efforts fighting the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“The Haqqanis [a major component of the Afghan Taliban and traditionally close to Pakistan] seemed to have recalibrated their relations with Islamabad in favour of the TTP,” he added. According to Wolf, this could “energize anti-state militant extremists and bolster Pakistan’s ultra-conservative religious groups.”

Another expert Antonio Giustozzi, visiting Professor at King’s College London, described the Taliban as “essentially quite loose and federal in structure”. He argued that the leadership [foremost the Quetta Shura] rejected centralisation attempts and adopted a model which is ‘resilient’ and ‘adaptive’ to ‘manage the diversity among the Pashtuns’.

The “Taliban are designed to tolerate and to coexist with internal conflict”. “The Taliban, like in the past, are divided into groups, there are leaders and figures who are competing for influence, there are regional differences, but that does not imply that they are on the verge of collapse or splintering,” he said.

Meanwhile, another expert of the region James M Page highlighted that the rapidity (and shock) of the Taliban offensive that culminated, in its latter stages, in the fall of Kabul should not have come as a surprise.

“The collapse of ANDSF [Afghan National Defence and Security Forces] was not, as claimed by some, because they did not fight; there is considerable evidence that various factors were involved, from the withholding of crucial air support and contractors, to the undermining of the Afghan government through the US-Taliban Doha Deal.”

It is widely acknowledged that external support has been crucial for the Taliban offensive from Pakistan and other states. As political dynamics and relationships alter in the region, Page stated this has important implications for alliances, and issues such as Counterterrorism capabilities. (ANI)

A day after Navjot Singh Sidhu tendered his resignation from the post of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief, state Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday said he has urged the “Congress family’s head” Sidhu, to resolve issues.

“Whoever is party president, is head of the family. I had called him (Navjot Singh Sidhu) and told him that the party is supreme… I have spoken to him on phone and told him to let’s sit, talk it out and resolve the issue,” Channi said while addressing media here.
Earlier today, Sidhu in a veiled dig at the new Punjab government stated that he cannot compromise with his ethics, moral authority and pointed out that he didn’t want a “repeat of a system of tainted leaders and officers in the state”.

Sidhu also said that there is a system of tainted leaders and officers in the state.

Channi, at the press conference also talked about the decisions taken during the Punjab Cabinet meeting earlier today and informed that the Punjab government will pay the electricity bills of 53 lakh families who cannot do so.

The Chief Minister said he has been regularly visiting villages in Punjab and electricity is a major issue.

“Due to the non-payment of excessive bills, many houses’ meters were disconnected. 75-80 per cent of consumers come under the 2 KiloWatt category…Their last bill will be taken care of, by us. The disconnected electricity connections will be reinstalled,” he said.

He also promised that soon the problem of the ‘sand mafia’ will be “finished” from Punjab.

“We are working day and night on how to improve the system. We have to break the nexus. I am bringing a new policy for this,” he said. (ANI)

The Taliban has recently requested India’s aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to resume commercial flight operations to Kabul, which were closed after August 15.
“The Civil Aviation of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan extends its compliments to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India. As you are informed that recently the Kabul airport was damaged and these functional by American troops before their withdrawal. By technical assistance of our Qatar brother the airport became operational once again and a NOTAM in this regard was issued on September 06, 2021,” a letter from Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority to DGCA Arun Kumar stated.

A top government source told ANI, “At present, the decision to resume commercial flights to Kabul is being reviewed by the DGCA, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) along with the competent authority.”

The Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA) has also requested the Indian authorities to resume the commercial flight services of the national carrier of Afghanistan between India and Kabul.

“The intention of this letter is to keep the smooth passenger movement between two countries based on the signed MoU and our national carriers (Ariana Afghan airlines and Kam Air) aimed to commence their scheduled flights. Therefore, Afghanistan civil aviation authority requests you to facilitate their commercial flights.” the ACAA letter stated.

India’s national carrier Air India operated its last commercial flight to Kabul was on August 15 amid turmoil in the city.

Flight operations in Afghanistan came to a halt after the Taliban takeover of Kabul last month. The domestic flights were resumed on September 5. Pakistan’s state-run Pakistan International Airlines was the first airline to operate the first international charter flight to Afghanistan on September 13, after the Taliban takeover. (ANI)

A day after Navjot Singh Sidhu stepped down from the post of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief, state Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday chaired the second meeting of the state cabinet in Chandigarh.

Cabinet Ministers Bharahm Mahindra and Razia Sultana, who tendered their resignation in “solidarity” with, didn’t attend the cabinet meeting.
Ahead of the meeting, Punjab Minister Raj Kumar Verka said that the agenda for the day was to take “big decisions regarding electricity”.

Further talking about Sidhu’s resignation from the post of Punjab Congress chief Verka said, “Sidhu should be with the Congress part and work together. We will resolve the matter in the cabinet meeting today.”

Congress MLA Randeep Singh Nabha said that in the cabinet meeting, the party leaders discussed the Punjab crisis and how to resolve it.

“We were not aware of Sidhu’s resignation and don’t know why he resigned from the post. If party selects new chief then we will accept it,” Nabha added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister S Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that Sidhu should work with the party to strengthen the state government.

Sidhu had tendered his resignation as Punjab Congress chief on Tuesday. A day after resigning, Sidhu, today, stated that he cannot compromise with his ethics, moral authority and pointed out that he didn’t want a “repeat of a system of tainted leaders and officers in the state”.

Sidhu was appointed as the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) on July 23 following months of turmoil in the state Congress unit.

There was a spate of resignations after Sidhu quit. A minister and three Congress leaders, considered close to him, stepped down from their posts delivering.

This comes as a big blow to the Congress high command that was hoping to resolve the turmoil in the Congress unit of Punjab ahead of the Assembly elections early next year.

After the tussle in Punjab Congress between Sidhu and captain Amarinder Singh escalated in August, the party had appointing Sidhu as the Congress chief apparently against the wishes of the Chief Minister. (ANI)

In a runoff between Kono Taro and Fumio to lead Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Fumio was declared the winner and is assured to become Prime Minister next week.

“Kishida Fumio has been elected leader of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He is virtually assured to become Prime Minister next week,” reported NHK World.
Kishida has also served as Japanese Foreign Minister.

Four candidates, namely Taro Kono, Kishida Fumio, Sanae Takaichi and Seiko Noda, entered the race for the presidential election of LDP.

As the LDP-led coalition constitutes a majority in both chambers of the parliament in Japan, the new party president is almost certain to be elected prime minister in the extraordinary diet session scheduled to be held on October 4, succeeding the incumbent Yoshihide Suga. (ANI)

A day after resigning as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday stated that he cannot compromise with his ethics, moral authority and pointed out that he didn’t want a “repeat of a system of tainted leaders and officers in the state”.

Sharing a video on Twitter, Sidhu said, “I have no personal rivalry with anyone. 17 years of my political career has been for a purpose, to make a difference, to take a stand and to make people’s lives better. This is my only religion.”
“I cannot compromise with my ethics, moral authority. What I witness is a compromise with issues, agenda in Punjab. I cannot misguide high command nor can I let them be misguided,” he said.

The Congress leader further said that there is a system of tainted leaders and officers in the state.

“I fought for issues concerning Punjab for a long time… There was a system of tainted leaders, officers, now you cannot repeat the same system again… I will stand by my principles,” he said.

He also reiterated the quote from the resignation letter he sent to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday and said, “The collapse of a man’s character stems from the compromise corner, I can never compromise on Punjab’s future and the agenda for the welfare of Punjab.”

Sidhu had tendered his resignation as Punjab Congress chief on Tuesday.

Sidhu is reportedly upset over the bureaucratic setup and his commands not being followed after Cabinet expansion in Punjab.

Sidhu was appointed as the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) on July 23 following months of turmoil in the state Congress unit.

Sidhu’s resignation as state party chief has intensified the crisis in the Punjab Congress and triggered discussions and deliberations in the party. A minister and three Congress leaders, considered close to him, stepped down from their posts delivering.

This comes as a big blow to the Congress high command that was hoping to resolve the turmoil in the Congress unit of Punjab ahead of the Assembly elections early next year.

After the tussle in Punjab Congress between Sidhu and Captain Amarinder Singh escalated in August, the party had appointing Sidhu as the Congress chief apparently against the wishes of the Chief Minister. (ANI)

Indian Ministers S Jaishankar, Piyush Goyal, Jyotiraditya Scindia, among others are scheduled to virtually address the fourth Annual Leadership Summit of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), which is set to begin on Wednesday.

USISPF is organising its fourth Annual Leadership Summit, titled “Looking Ahead: Strengthening Resilience, Expanding Prosperity” from September 29 to October 1.
As per the agenda of the summit, there will be various strategic discussions between USISPF’s board members, ministers and senior government officials from both India and US and Fortune 500 CEOs during the course of three days.

From India, the Cabinet Ministers who are scheduled to be part of the programme include Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar; Minister of Textiles, Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal; Minister of Education, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia; Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sport Anurag Thakur; Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

From America, Senator Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader, US Senate; Samantha Power, Administrator, United States Agency for International Development; and Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indi-Pacific Affairs, National Security Council among others.

As per the agenda of the summit, USISPF will honour Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Executive Chairman of Tata Sons, Punit Renjen, CEO of Deloitte Global, and Rajesh Subramaniam, President, COO and Director, FedEx Corp., with the USISPF Global Leadership Award 2021 on Thursday for leading the corporate community in their heroic efforts of responding to India’s second wave of Covid-19.

Various top Indian Bureaucrats are also scheduled to address the meeting including Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, Rita Teaotia, Chairperson, FSSAI, Ambassador Taranjit Sandhu, Ambassador of India to United States.

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is a non-profit organization, with the primary objective of strengthening the India-US bilateral and strategic partnership through policy advocacy in the fields of economic growth, entrepreneurship, employment-creation, and innovation. (ANI)

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said the state government is contemplating bringing an Anti-Conversion Bill in the Assembly.

Bommai said the law will be brought which can forbid forceful religious conversions in the state. “We are contemplating bringing an Anti-Conversion law,” he said.
Karnataka Chief Minister was responding to the allegation of conversion in Yadgir after reports of forced conversions from the region.

“There are complaints of forced conversions in the state. There is serious thought on formulating a law to regulate it completely,” he said.

On September 21, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra also said that the government is thinking to bring anti-conversation law in the state and for that, they are reading other states’ laws.

“We are planning to bring a bill (anti-conversion bill). Some states have already brought the anti-conversion bill. We will study them and we will bring that bill,” said the home minister.

Earlier in April this year, Gujarat Vidhan Sabha had passed the ‘Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2021’ with a majority to bring more stringent punishment against forced religious conversions through marriage.

Gujarat had become the third state after Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to make a law against forced religious conversions. (ANI)