Month: April 2022

The United States hasn’t made a final decision on sanctions on India for its acquisition of the S-400 missile system from Russia under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), a top official from Biden’s administration said indicating that Washington is focused on the “future” with New Delhi.

Speaking to ANI, Derek Chollet, top advisor of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said, “I share the view of my boss Secretary Blinken, that we have not made a decision on that (CAATSA), We are focused on the future with the Indians.”
On India’s determination to purchase the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, Blinken during 2+2 ministerial dialogue earlier this month said: “We have not made determination potential sanctions or waivers under CAATSA law.”

During the high level diplomatic and defence dialogue between India and the United States, Blinken reiterated that he had urged all nations not to undertake weapons delivery from Russia.

Acknowledging that India and Russia have a “long history and long relationship” in defence equipment trade, Chollet highlighted that over the last two decades and especially the last one year of the Biden administration has demonstrated the full potential of the US India relationship. The diplomat said that it’s important to note that the relationship between the two democracies is also the result of a bipartisan effort.

“Presidents of both parties (Democrats and Republicans) going back over two decades, now have built on the accomplishments of the other to make the US-India relationship what it is today the work we’re doing,” the Biden administration’s top official told ANI.

The US administration is required under its domestic law to impose sanctions on any country that has significant transactions with Iran, North Korea or Russia.

India had inked the USD 5.43 billion deal with Russia for five squadrons of S-400s in October 2018. The deliveries accelerated ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India and summit meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sources familiar with the matter appear reasonably confident of a waiver to India from the Biden administration because of the improved strategic relations between the two countries.

“Not just bilaterally but in the Quad is a showcase of strong India US ties and when the Quad leaders meet in the coming weeks for the second time in person, it will once again show the full potential of what the US India relationship can bring to both of our countries. We think it brings benefits to both countries. And I think ultimately the US India working together is going to make the world better,” Chollet said.

U.S. President Joe Biden during a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is planning to visit Japan in late May for a “Quad” summit also involving the leaders of Australia and India, a meeting that is likely to showcase a deepening of ties between the four major Indo-Pacific democracies that are facing China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

When asked on the framework of the upcoming Quad summit and how the US plans to partner with India, Blinken’s top advisor said, “I think first it’s important to note how fast the Quad has grown into what it is today and it’s just a year ago.”

Quad leaders met virtually for the first time last year and Tokyo will be hosting a second in-person summit. “There’s a robust agenda for the upcoming summit as there has been for the previous ones. There’s no shortage of issues for the leaders to discuss as we expect that when the leaders have a chance to get together soon. It will be a successful summit,” Chollet told ANI. (ANI)

A bus carrying 15 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel were attacked by terrorists on Friday near Chaddha Camp in Jammu.

According to a senior CISF officer, the attack happened around 4.25 AM, while the bus was en route for the morning shift duties.

“CISF averted the terrorist attack, retaliated effectively, and made the terrorists run away,” said a senior CISF officer.

“In the line of action, one Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of CISF has lost his life and two others are injured,” he added.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

Following a scuffle between two advocates and their one client, an incident of gun firing took place at the Rohini court on Friday.

According to the police, a constable of the Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) deployed at the court opened fire on the ground.
“A quarrel between two advocates, namely Sanjeev Chaudhary and Rishi Chopra, and a public person named Rohit Beri took place at around 9.40 AM as they entered gate number eight (8),” said Delhi Police.

The lawyers told media persons that they demand a security review and a stricter probe into the matter.

“We are deeply anguished with whatever has happened in the court today. While a few lawyers were trying to calm the situation involving a client misbehaving with his advocate, this policeman came with his AK 47 and shot fire at the ground. The pieces of the fired bullet shell have injured one of the advocates near the stomach and a local man,” said Advocate Rajeev Tehlan, Ex-president, Rohini Court Bar Association.

However, the Delhi Police reported no casualties, but minor injuries to two people.

Further details into the matter are awaited. (ANI)

Balconagar (Chhattisgarh) [India], April 21 (ANI): The Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic Aluminium producer, has welcomed seven transgender professionals into its workforce.

The company became the first in Chhattisgarh to induct LGBTQIA+ employees, when it hired four transgender employees for operating forklifts at its Cast House in March this year.
Recently, BALCO inducted three more transgender employees, this time in its security function.

With a strong resolve to foster a culture of diversity and inclusivity at the workplace, BALCO has become one of the few manufacturing companies in India to open its doors to members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

A milestone in BALCO’s journey of diversity and inclusivity, the induction of transgender employees was preceded by gender-sensitization workshops for the entire workforce of the company, with respect to their social and psychological challenges, proper code of conduct and ways of working to build a cohesive and encouraging environment for all.

Apart from this, the company has also carried out required infrastructural augmentations to ensure that the new hires feel comfortable, welcomed and have a sense of belongingness with the team.

The members have been given the responsibility of working in the plant after due process of checking the eligibility criteria. Their joining has been followed by structured safety training, equal opportunity training sessions, shop floor and technical training in line with our best people practices approach.

Expressing his views about the hiring of transgender employees, Abhijit Pati, CEO and Director of BALCO, said, “Vedanta prides itself on being a merit-first organization, and merit is gender-agnostic. Under the guidance of our Chairman, Anil Agarwal, BALCO is leaving no stone unturned in tapping the potential of India’s human capital. We have welcomed seven transgender members into our family, in a milestone moment along our journey of making our workplace more inclusive and diverse. BALCO is committed to transforming its workplace for the good of the company, our people, and the country at large. We have bolstered our efforts towards introducing a social change by creating an environment of inclusivity, non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all.”

In response, some of the company’s transgender hires, who are manning forklift operations, shared their personal experiences.

“It has been over a month since my joining the BALCO family and I feel really great to work here. The workplace environment is extremely helpful and supportive and is playing a crucial role in the enhancement of my skillset,” Bhawani Rathia, the company’s transgender hires.

“I am extremely thankful to BALCO management for the opportunity and for giving us a platform where we can demonstrate our potential and learn to grow further,” added Aisha Vishwakarma.

Roopa Kurrey believes that the company is playing a significant role in bringing people from transgender communities to the mainstream by providing them employment opportunities.

Kanishka Sona has been having a wonderful learning experience. She said, “We are being given exposure to different departments in BALCO under our training module. This is not only helping us in our primary induction procedure but is also helping us to understand the larger perspective of business operations.” (ANI)

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) on Wednesday demanded immediate cancellation of the FIR registered against Congress leader Alka Lamba and former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and poet Kumar Vishwas, stating that it has only been registered to settle the personal agenda as they have been critical of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

In a letter to Punjab Police DGP VK Bhawra, Senior Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said, “We on behalf of the people of Punjab in general and the Congress party in particular request you to immediately order the cancellation of FIR against senior Congress leader Alka Lamba and renowned poet of the country Dr Kumar Vishwas.”
“The content of the FIR, based on the complaint of someone whose identity is still not known to anyone, makes it obvious that it has only been registered to settle a personal score with these people as they have been critical of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,” the letter reads.

Bajwa said that Punjab Police have no jurisdiction to register an FIR because on which the FIR is based, were allegedly made in Delhi against a person who is also based in Delhi.

“Holding such a senior and responsible position you are well aware that the alleged statements, on which the FIR is based, were allegedly made in Delhi against a person who is also based in Delhi. While no criminal offence is made from the purported statements, even if these did, the Ropar/Punjab Police have no jurisdiction to register an FIR,” he said.

The Congress leader further said that this is not just a misuse of power and authority, but total abuse of power.

“Needless to add, this FIR will not stand any legal security with the likelihood of the concerned police officers getting censured for their action aimed at pleasing their political bosses remotely based in Delhi,” he added.

“We are here to demand the cancellation of the FIR and action against the officers who went into overdrive to register an FIR where there could be none,” the letter further reads.

The Congress party believes in democratic and constitutional principles and will not let at any cost Punjab getting turned into a Police State and will not let the voice of people being gagged.

“We will adopt all legal and constitutional means to get this unlawful FIR cancelled. We hope you are able to see the reason and order immediate cancellation of the FIR,” he added.

The Punjab Police summoned Congress leader Alka Lamba to appear before the special investigation team at Sadar Rupnagar police station on April 26 in connection with her alleged derogatory statement against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ahead of Punjab Assembly polls.

Punjab Police on Wednesday filed an FIR against Kumar Vishwas in Rupnagar town for ‘inflammatory statements’ against AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal in the run-up to the February 20 state assembly elections.

Vishwas, who was a founding member of the Aam Aadmi Party had alleged that Kejriwal had connections with separatists in Punjab, and those having sympathy with separatists used to come to his house for meetings during the last assembly polls. (ANI)

Amid the rumours of his joining Congress, poll strategist Prashant Kishor will hold talks with party interim president Sonia Gandhi on Friday, said sources.

“Poll strategist Prashant Kishor will hold talks with Congress tomorrow, April 22 in regard to his joining. A presentation of 600 slides is prepared by Kishor. No one has seen the complete presentation,” Sources close to Kishor told ANI.
Kishor will hold talks with the interim president of Congress Sonia Gandhi tomorrow while Rahul Gandhi along with the national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are also likely to take part in the deliberations on the issue of the joining of the poll strategist.

Talks on joining Congress are only between Gandhis and Kishor. He may join Congress in the next three to four days, sources said.

Kishor met Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi at her residence on April 18. He had met Sonia Gandhi on April 16 as well.

By evaluating Kishor’s proposal, Congress is gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier, national general secretary KC Venugopal had said that Kishor had given a detailed presentation with a road map for the 2024 general elections.

Answering queries, he said the role of Kishor in the Congress party will be known within a week.

Sources had previously told ANI that Kishor, in his presentation, suggested that Congress should fight alone in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha, and it should form alliances in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra to which Rahul Gandhi has agreed.

Kishor is learnt to have said that Congress should focus on 370 Lok Sabha constituencies for the 2024 general elections.

These meetings are also taking place in the backdrop of Congress’ poll preparations for Gujarat and Himachal Assembly elections this year.

After the recent poll debacle in five states, Congress is seeking to restart negotiations with Kishor. The results of five Assembly polls came as a shock to Congress which was hoping to do well to revive its prospects for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections 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. (ANI)

Karnataka Police arrested the absconding mastermind of the Hubli stone-pelting incident Wasim Pathan from Mumbai on Thursday.

Pathan was detained by the Hubli Police team in Mumbai and brought to Hubli on Thursday. He was absconding after the incident itself.
The stone-pelting incident took place on the night of April 16 in Old Hubli leaving four policemen injured and several vehicles damaged.

Further, Seven more accused have been taken into custody by police today, in connection with the stone-pelting incident at Old Hubli Police Station.

Following the stone-pelting incident, section 144 was imposed in Hubli.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday denied allegations levelled by the Opposition of arresting innocent persons in connection with Hubli violence.

Speaking to media persons in Sringeri, Bommai rejected former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s charge that innocents have been arrested in connection with the Hubali incidents.

“No innocents have been arrested. The arrests have been made based on evidence,” Bommai said.

Reacting to a video inciting to kill a Congress leader, which has gone viral, Bommai said that the Police Commissioner will take action.

When asked about opposition leaders accusing him of turning the Rama Rajya into a Ravana Rajya, the Chief Minister said, “They are entitled to have their own interpretations. It is not important as to what the Opposition leaders say, it is the opinion of the people that matters.” (ANI)

On the occasion of the British monarch’s 96th birthday, Barbie’s tribute series honoured Queen Elizabeth, by dedicating a Barbie doll in her likeness.

Queen Elizabeth is celebrating her 96th birthday today.
As per the pictures obtained by People magazine, the British monarch got her own Barbie doll in her likeness, inspired by one of her most iconic looks.

The picture sees the doll wearing an elegant ivory gown and blue ribbon adorned with decorations of order. Her regal ensemble is completed with a stunning tiara based on Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, which Queen Elizabeth II wore for her wedding to Prince Philip, and matching accessories.

As per the outlet, the Queen Elizabeth Barbie doll will cost USD 75 and will be available beginning Thursday on Amazon, Walmart, Target and Mattel.

For the unversed, Barbie’s Tribute Series launched last year, with the first doll in the collection paying tribute to iconic comedian and actor Lucille Ball.

People magazine reported that Buckingham Palace has announced a weekend of celebrations and an extended bank holiday, spanning from June 2 until June 5 to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The actual date of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was February 6, 2022, but plans had been made to celebrate the event in June.

Events will include Trooping the Colour (the annual public festivities for the Queen’s birthday), the lighting of Platinum Jubilee beacons, a service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Derby at Epsom Downs, a live concert called ‘Platinum Party at the Palace,’ the Big Jubilee Lunch and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant. (ANI)

A five-member delegation of the Samajwadi Party will visit the Jahangirpuri area in the national capital on Friday, where the demolition drive was carried out by the civic body.

According to the official statement, the committee will investigate the matter and submit the report to the Samajwadi Party’s Central Office.
The members of the inquiry committee are–Lok Sabha MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq, former Rajya Sabha MP Ravi Prakash Verma, Lok Sabha MP ST Hasan, Rajya Sabha MP Vishambhar Prasad Nishad and former Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali Khan.

“On the instructions of the Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav, the delegation will go to New Delhi. On April 20, 2022, the Jahangirpuri area was destroyed by running bulldozers by the BJP (run) Municipal Corporation of Delhi. A 5-member committee has been constituted for its investigation, which will investigate and submit its report to the Samajwadi Party’s Central Office, New Delhi/State Office, Lucknow on April 22, 2022,” the Samajwadi Party statement reads.

A delegation of 16 members of Congress including Delhi Congress Chief Anil Chaudhry, AICC Gen Secretary Ajay Maken and AICC Incharge of Delhi Shakti Sinh Gohil is also scheduled to visit the Jahangirpuri area today.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo member Brinda Karat on Wednesday visited the demolition site and called the BJP-ruled civic body’s demolition drive unconstitutional.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi also visited Jahangirpuri on Wednesday, called the drive carried out by North Delhi Municipal Corporation a “targetted drive” and accused the BJP of vigilante justice.

Supreme Court ordered to maintain a “status-quo” on the demolition drive conducted by North Delhi Municipal Corporation in Jahangirpuri.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation Wednesday had scheduled an “encroachment removal action programme”, wherein illegal construction in the Jahangirpuri area will be removed on Wednesday and Thursday. (ANI)

A man in Kabul set himself on fire for being extremely impoverished following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, reported local media.

Spin Gul, who was presumably in his late 20s, burnt himself on April 18 and succumbed to his wounds in the hospital, reported Khaama Press.
Gul, who was a father to four children, was the only breadwinner of his family but had lost his mental stability recently, said Gul’s brother.

According to Gul’s grandmother, her grandson, who was a trolley man, committed suicide after being penurious following the regime transformation in the country.

However, refuting the reports of Gul committing suicide due to a bad economic situation, the Afghan Interior Ministry said that the deceased had a mental disorder, according to the media outlet.

This comes as Afghanistan is facing a dire situation as a result of the takeover by the Taliban. In August 2021, the Taliban took over Afghanistan. The Taliban’s swift ascension to power resulted in economic disorder and food shortages that pushed the country to the brink of a humanitarian crisis.

According to UN figures, 23 million people in Afghanistan are currently starving and 95 per cent of Afghans do not have enough food to eat three times in 24 hours. (ANI)