Month: March 2022

Ten ministers were sworn in on Saturday in Punjab, with the senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Harpal Singh Cheema and Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal joining the Bhagwant Mann led Cabinet in the state.

The ministers took the oath of offices at a swearing-in ceremony in Chandigarh at Raj Bhawan. The oath was administered by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

Besides Cheema and Dhaliwal, the AAP MLAs — Dr Baljit Kaur, Harbhajan Singh ETO, Dr Vijay Singla, Lal Chand Kataruchak, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Brahm Shankar Jimpa and Harjot Singh Bains — were sworn in at the ceremony in the Raj Bhavan.

Besides Mann, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya was also present at the oath-taking ceremony.

Mann’s daughter Seerat Kaur Mann and son Dilshan Mann were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, on March 17, Punjab’s newly-elected MLAs, including Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, took oath as members of the Legislative Assembly. The legislators were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Protem Speaker Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar.

The AAP leader and the party’s face for recently held Punjab Assembly polls Bhagwant Mann took oath as the Chief Minister of the state on March 16.

The AAP recorded a landslide victory in the recently concluded Punjab Assembly polls winning 92 seats, sidelining most of its rivals. (ANI)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that inflation is likely to rise further and urged the government to act immediately and protect the people.

The Wayanad MP also said that the crude oil prices are expected to rise above USD 100 per barrel and food prices could rise by 22 per cent.

“Inflation is a tax on all Indians. Record price rise had crushed the poor and middle class even before Ukraine war began. It will increase further as: Crude > $100/barrel, Food prices expected to rise 22 per cent, COVID disrupts Global Supply Chain. GOI must act NOW. Protect people,” Gandhi tweeted.

Earlier this week, the Congress leader had slammed the Central government over high inflation and reduced rates of fixed deposits and provident fund, and said the common people are facing the consequences of its “wrong policies.”

“Common citizens are facing the consequences of the wrong policies of the government: FD: 5.1 per cent (down), PPF: 7.1 per cent (down), EPF: 8.1 per cent (down). Retail Inflation: 6.07 per cent (up). Wholesale Inflation: 13.11 per cent (up). Is it not the responsibility of the government to provide relief to people?” Gandhi tweeted on Tuesday (roughly translated from Hindi). (ANI)

India’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves declined by $9.646 billion to $622.275 billion in the week ended March 11, the sharpest decline in nearly two years, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) heavily sold dollars to prevent the slide in the value of rupee.

According to the RBI’s weekly statistical supplement, the foreign currency assets, which is the biggest component of the forex reserves, slumped by $11.108 billion to $554.359 billion during the week under review.

Expressed in US dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-dollar currencies like Euro, UK’s Pound Sterling and Japanese Yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.

This sharp decline in the country’s foreign currency assets coincides with the week during which the rupee hit an all-time low.

The Indian rupee plunged to a record low of 77.02 against a US dollar on March 7.

According to the market analysts, the RBI intervened in the currency markets by selling dollars. The central bank is estimated to have sold $1 billion a day during the week to prevent further weakness in the Indian currency.

The decline in the forex reserves during the week ended March 11 this year was the sharpest in nearly two years. The country’s forex reserves had slipped by $11.9 billion during the week ended March 20, 2020. The country’s forex reserves had touched an all-time high of $642.453 billion in the week ended September 3, 2021.

The value of India’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declined by $53 million to $18.928 billion. India’s reserve position in the IMF dropped by $7 million to $5.146 billion during the week ended March 11, the RBI data showed.

However, the value of gold reserves rose sharply in line with the sharp appreciation in the gold price during the week. The value of gold reserves jumped by $1.522 billion to $43.842 billion during the week under review. (ANI)

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday met with party president Sonia Gandhi here and said he has shared suggestions discussed in the dissident G-23 group meeting on strengthening the party, which had a dismal showing in the recently concluded Assembly polls in five states.

“The meeting with Sonia Gandhi was good. All members of the Congress party decided unanimously that she should continue as the president, nobody said that Sonia Gandhi should quit, we just had some suggestions that were shared,” Azad told media persons after the meeting at 10 Janpath, the residence of Sonia Gandhi.

“The discussion was held to fight unitedly in the forthcoming Assembly elections to defeat the opposition parties,” he said.

Azad said that in the Congress Working Committee meeting recently, suggestions were sought on how to strengthen the organization.

On Wednesday the leaders of the G-23, which has been calling for sweeping reforms in the Congress met at Azad’s residence to discuss the party’s performance in the recently concluded Assembly elections in five states – Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Goa.

Party leaders Kapil Sibal, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor, Mani Shankar Aiyar, PJ Kurien, Preneet Kaur, Sandeep Dikshit and Raj Babbar were among those present.

The G-23 group has been a vocal critic of Congress leadership, demanding an organizational overhaul after its members wrote a joint letter to Gandhi in 2020.

The results of five assembly polls came as a shock to the Congress which was hoping to do well to revive its prospects for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and to fend off the emerging challenge from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress to replace it as the fulcrum of anti-BJP politics in the country.

The party is slated to elect a new party chief later this year at the culmination of organizational elections. (ANI)

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday alleged that several parts of the film ‘The Kashmir Files’, which focuses on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley in the 1990s, are “false” and said that “BJP-backed Governor rule” prevailed at that time.

Addressing the media here, Omar said that in the 90s, Farooq Abdullah was not the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Many false things have been shown in ‘The Kashmir Files’ movie. During that time, Farooq Abdullah was not Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister but Governor rule was there. VP Singh’s government was there in the country which was backed by BJP,” Omar said.

The film has been mired in controversy since its release on March 11 with the BJP and Opposition parties having conflicting views on it.

At a BJP Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his support for the recently released film ‘The Kashmir Files’ against attempts, he claimed were being made to discredit it.

On the other hand, Opposition parties are criticizing the film for showing “half-truth”.

Meanwhile, the Central government has accorded ‘Y’ category security cover to ‘The Kashmir Files’ director Vivek Agnihotri with CRPF cover pan India.

The movie, which had released in theatres on March 11, stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar, and others.

It revolves around the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 and has been directed by Vivek Agnihotri, known for films like ‘Tashkent Files’, ‘Hate Story’ and ‘Buddha in a Traffic Jam’.

The film has been declared tax-free in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Goa, Haryana, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand. (ANI)

India at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) advocated the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) saying that it is important to ensure its implementation in letter and spirit.

India noted the remarks made by the UN Under-Secretary-General of Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu regarding biological activities relating to Ukraine and said that “India attaches high importance to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) as a key global and non-discriminatory disarmament Convention, prohibiting an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.”

R Ravindra, Deputy Permanent Representative at UNSC briefing said, “It is important to ensure full and effective implementation of the BTWC in letter and spirit. We also believe that any matter relating to obligations under the BTWC should be addressed as per the provisions of the Convention and through consultations and cooperation between the parties concerned.”

Expressing concern over the ongoing situation in Ukraine, India added that it welcomes the latest round of diplomatic talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

“As outlined yesterday, India remains deeply concerned at the progressively deteriorating situation in Ukraine. We welcome the latest round of diplomatic talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine,” the Indian diplomat said.

India reiterated the need for dialogue and diplomacy. Tirumurti said, “We believe that immediate cessation of hostilities and diligently pursuing the path of dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward.”

“We need to undertake this engagement keeping in mind the need to respect the principles of the UN Charter, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity of States,” he added.

Russia had started a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24 in response to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics for protection against intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the special operation was only targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and the civilian population was not in danger. Moscow has repeatedly said it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. Western nations have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia.

Earlier in March, the Russian Defense Ministry unveiled new findings after analyzing documents obtained from experts from Ukrainian laboratories.

Igor Kirillov, the chief of the Russian armed forces’ radiation, chemical, and biological defence, said that Pentagon created a network of over 30 biological laboratories in Ukrainian territory.

According to Kirillov, the United States removed all materials necessary for further research from Ukraine after the beginning of Russia’s special military operation. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow may launch a consultation mechanism under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) to discuss Washington’s non-compliance with the document.

However, a US Defense Department official denied the accusations saying the United States is not assisting Ukraine with biological weapons in its war with Russia and there are no indications that biological weapons are being used by Ukraine. (ANI)

US President Joe Biden spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping over a secured video call on Friday in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

China’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already troubled western observers. White House officials are watching with growing concern the budding partnership between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Biden, on Thursday, said that the Chinese counterpart “does not believe democracies can be sustained in the 21st century.” According to CNN News, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said, “We’re (US) concerned that they’re (China) considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine.”

United Nations has “deep concerns” on China’s alignment with Russia at present time, a US official said, adding that the national security adviser was directed about those concerns and the potential implications and consequences of certain actions.

“We do have deep concerns about China’s alignment with Russia at this time, and the national security adviser was direct about those concerns and the potential implications and consequences of certain actions,” the official said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki underscored that message, suggesting the US would take action against China should it help Russia.

“We’ve been clear there would be consequences,” she said at a White House briefing.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met Chinese Communist Party Political Bureau Member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi and raised a range of issues in US-China ties, with “substantial discussion” of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“Sullivan raised a range of issues in US-China relations, with substantial discussion of Russia’s war against Ukraine. They also underscored the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and China,” a White House readout said. The meeting between the US and Chinese diplomates was held in Rome, Italy.

“Their meeting followed up on the November 15, 2022, virtual meeting between President Biden and President Xi,” the readout said.

Earlier, the US had warned China of the consequences of helping Russia bypass sanctions.

On February 24, Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine after the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics requested help in defending themselves.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger.

The West however denies these claims by the Russians and in response, Western nations have imposed comprehensive sanctions on Moscow. In addition, they introduced sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russia’s operation in Ukraine. (ANI)

Thousands of people gathered at Nepal’s Kathmandu Durbar Square on Thursday for Holi, which is being celebrated after a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Basantapur or the Kathmandu Durbar Square which has witnessed major turmoil and changes in Nepal is also referred as the “Holi Junction of Kathmandu”.

“Basantapur area has witnessed rapid change in the system of celebration after the outbreak of COVID pandemic. At a time when the pandemic was ravaging, less footfall was witnessed here as the administration had put a cap on the number of people for any sort of gatherings. Now with the COVID numbers decreasing, the Basantapur again is returning as a celebratory hub,” Dipendra Dhungana, a Kathmandu based photojournalist who has been covering the celebration for years told ANI.

Every year, tourists including foreigners flock to the square to celebrate the festival.

“The celebration is going great, everyone is so kind and everyone goes around smearing powder which I would not get to experience in my nation. Everyone touches each other’s faces which would have been avoided in my country. It’s great and amazing,” Teressa, a visiting German tourist said.

The festival, also called the Spring festival, marks the arrival of spring and the harvest season.

This traditional culture of playing the Holi is marked on two separate days in Nepal. The Hilly and Himalayan districts of Nepal mark the day of Holi on Thursday (this year) whereas the Terai districts will be celebrating Holi tomorrow (Friday).

For two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, the pavilion had remained silent during the festival of colours where local administration allowed only limited processions to commence.

With the third wave of COVID infection, the crowds are back with gusto and fervour. (ANI)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to pay a two-day visit to New Delhi from March 19 for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit.

Speaking at a weekly media briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi informed that this will be the first meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Japanese Prime Minister Kishida.

“India-Japan Summit will be held on March 19th. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida will be undertaking an official visit to New Delhi from 19-20 March for 14th India-Japan Annual Summit. This will be the first meeting of these two leaders,” said Bagchi and noted that the last annual summit took place in Tokyo back in 2018.

Underscoring the importance of the bilateral ties, the MEA spokesperson said both India and Japan have multi-faceted cooperation within the ambit of their special strategic and global partnership.

“The summit will provide an opportunity to review and strengthen bilateral cooperation in diverse areas as well as exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, so as to advance partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

Last year witnessed increasing bilateral and multilateral engagement between India and Japan, and further strengthening of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

The two sides maintained the momentum in ties through virtual meetings and phone calls despite the pandemic. Prime Minister spoke to the then Japanese Prime Minister Suga on April 26, 2021, to exchange views on the management of the pandemic and for strengthening cooperation in the post-Covid-19 world.

Both nations also witnessed further strengthening of bilateral security and defence cooperation. (ANI)

In view of festivals of Holi and Shab e-Barat festival, the Delhi Police has tightened security around the areas of Jama Masjid and Delhi Gate to ensure safe celebrations.

Central District Deputy Commissioner of Police Shweta Chauhan said that 17 pickets have been placed on roads heading towards New Delhi to ensure intensive checking of vehicles.

“We have placed 17 pickets to do intense checking on the ways heading towards New Delhi. We have also kept two drones with night vision to keep an eye on the areas of Jama Masjid and Delhi Gate.”

“We have held meetings with RWAs to maintain peace in the areas. Sufficient force will be deployed. We will also deploy outside forces. Strict action will be taken against drunkards, illegal-rash driving and for other crimes,” he added.

Marking the onset of the spring season, Holi is a festival of colours, symbolic of joy and victory of good over evil.

Shab-e-Barat is a Muslim festival of sacred night, celebrated on the 15th night of the month of Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. It is also known as the night of fortune and forgiveness. (ANI)