Month: April 2022

Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister on Friday categorically stated that US pressure will not affect the partnership between India and Russia.

“Have no doubt pressure doesn’t affect partnership, I have no doubt no pressure will affect our partnership… They (US) are forcing others to follow their politics,” said Lavrov in New Delhi while replying to a question by ANI about US pressure affecting India-Russia ties.

Earlier this week, the US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price had said that every country has its own relationship with Moscow and Washington is not seeking any change in that.

“Different countries are going to have their own relationship with the Russian Federation. It’s a fact of history. It’s a fact of geography. That is not something that we are seeking to change,” Price had said during a press briefing in Washington.

Price’s remarks had come ahead of Lavrov’s visit to India. The Russian Foreign Minister arrived in New Delhi on Friday amidst the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

“India must not be dependent on systems whose masters can steal your money overnight,” Lavrov said when asked about the United States’ statement that India would be violating US sanctions by purchasing discounted oil from Russia.

On the possibility of India becoming a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv, Russian Foreign Minister said,”India is an important country. If India sees to play that role which provides resolution of the problem…If India is with its position of a just and rational approach to international problems, it can support such process.”

In a major announcement of further deepening of ties between Russia and India, visiting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said that Moscow is ready to supply oil and hi-tech weapons which Delhi wants to buy from it.

“We will be ready to supply to India any goods which it wants to buy from us. We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations,” Lavrov said.

The announcement is significant as it comes amid the ongoing energy crisis due to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine that has severely affected energy prices across the world.

Emphasizing that the relations between Moscow and New Delhi are decades old, he said, “Talks are characterised by relations which we developed with India for many decades. Relations are strategic partnerships…This was the basis on which we have been promoting our cooperation in all areas.”

He appreciated Indian diplomacy and assured to extend support to India calling it a “loyal partner”.

Elaborating at length on how Russia can support India in terms of security challenges, Lavrov said, “I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterised by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners.”

The India and Russia ties have been a longstanding relation. Since the signing of the “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000, India-Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationship including political, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, and culture.

Earlier, Lavrov met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday. Both the leaders held bilateral talks, tweeted the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Lavrov, who is on a two-day official visit to India arrived here on Thursday. This is the first trip of Lavrov to India since Moscow launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24.

Lavrov’s visit comes soon after China’s foreign minister Wang Yi visit to India last week and ahead of the 2+2 dialogue set to be held between India and the US on April 11.

The Russian Foreign Minister reached New Delhi after his two-day visit to China.(ANI)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved the Delhi High Court against the summons issued to its officials by Kolkata Police in connection with an audiotape leak case.

The Kolkata Police recently had issued fresh summons to three ED officials. The ED officials have been recently asked to appear before sleuths of the detective department at Kalighat Police Station.

The Bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh on Friday took up the matter and tagged this fresh ED application with another similar petition of ED, already pending before the Delhi High Court. The court fixed the matter for April 4, 2022, for hearing.

Meanwhile, ASG SV Raju appearing from Enforcement Directorate sought to stay on the summons or interim order to restrain West Bengal Police from any action against the officials. On that, senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa appearing for the West Bengal government assured the court that till the next date of hearing no action will be taken.

Along with ASG SV Raju, Advocates Amit Mahajan and Nitesh Rana also appeared for Enforcement Directorate in the matter.

Earlier in September 2019, ED had approached the Delhi High Court and sought quashing of notices issued by West Bengal Police against ED officials probing coal mining cases and the alleged involvement of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee in it. The Delhi HC had granted a stay on the notice in December 2021.

ED in its plea stated that the respondents despite passing the interim order in order to overreach orders of this Court has issued impugned notice dated March 17, 2022 in apparent attempt to harass, browbeat and stop the officers of ED from discharging the statutory functions.

The mala fide of the Respondent is also apparent from the fact that they also filed an application for taking voice sample of the officer of ED in which an ex parte order dated March 29 has been passed by the Judicial Magistrate, Alipore, states ED.

ED in its fresh petition seeks quashing of March 17 notice issued in Kalighat Police station under Section 160(1) CrPC.

The plea mentioned that the investigation into the illegal coal mining and the role of the complainant Abhishek Banerjee, Member of Parliament and nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is being investigated by the ED in the exercise of its statutory powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in the Headquarters at New Delhi.

ED further stated that West Bengal Police FIR has been registered with a malafide intention to derail and delay the investigation under PMLA being conducted by the Directorate of Enforcement. (ANI)

Indian Railways is planning to implement its state-of-the-art indigenous technology ‘Kavach’ implemented on 3,009 route kilometres (RKM) on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw made the announcement while responding to a query of Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Lal.

On being asked “when Kavach technology is likely to be implemented”, the Minister said “as on February 28, 2022, the technology is implemented on 1,098 Rk of South Central Railway” and that further “Kavach is planned to be implemented on 3,009 Rkm on Delhi Mumbai and Delhi Howrah corridors”.

Further, the minister mentioned the various features of Kavach and said, “Prevention of Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD); continuous update of movement authority; Prevention of Over-speed: Section Speed, Train Speed, Permanent Speed Restriction and Loop Line Speed Control; prevention of collision between two Locos equipped with functional TCAS; and display of Signal Aspect in Loco pilot’s cab are among the main salient features of ‘Kavach’.”

He also informed that the absolute block section trial for ‘Kavach’ started in October 2017 in Lingampaily-Wadi and Vikarabad-Bidar of South Central Railway.

The Minister said that the automatic block section trial for ‘Kavach’ started in February 2019 in Sanath Nagar Lingampally of South Central Railway, and the 160 kmph speed trial for ‘Kavach’ started in October 2018 in the Mathura-Agra section of North Central Railway. (ANI)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday.

Both the leaders held bilateral talks, tweeted the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lavrov, who is on a two-day official visit to India arrived here on Thursday. This is the first trip of Lavrov to India since Moscow launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24.

Lavrov’s visit comes soon after China’s foreign minister Wang Yi visit to India last week and ahead of the 2+2 dialogue set to be held between India and the US on April 11.

The Russian Foreign Minister reached New Delhi after his two-day visit to China.

On Wednesday, in China, Lavrov held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and both sides pledged to strengthen bilateral ties. Lavrov informed the Chinese side of the Russia-Ukraine talks, saying Russia is committed to easing the tensions, continuing peace talks with Ukraine, and maintaining communication with the international community.

Russian Foreign Minister participated in two multinational meetings on Afghanistan along with representatives from Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Lavrov also held meetings with representatives from China and Pakistan and attended a separate meeting of the “Extended Troika” with special Afghan envoys from China and the US.

Russian leaders and elites are facing Western sanctions, including an asset freeze and travel ban, over the country’s invasion of Ukraine last month.

The US in coordination with the EU and the G7 has imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, key members of his government and members of his inner circle and over 400 Russian elites considered close to Kremlin.

Over 325 members of the Duma have also been targeted with sanctions. (ANI)

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday moved a resolution in the assembly seeking the transfer of Chandigarh to the state.

The resolution has been moved against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s decision to put Chandigarh under central service rule.

Bhagwant Mann while reading the resolution said that this decision is a direct attack on the right of Punjab on Chandigarh.

Mann read the resolution at a one-day special assembly session in Chandigarh in Punjab.

Earlier on Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the service conditions of the employees of the Chandigarh administration will now be matched to that of the Central Civil Services.

This decision by the Home Minister is expected to bring big gains to the employees.

Earlier on Wednesday, after a gap of 11 years, the Chandigarh administration hiked the water tariff in the range of Rs 3 per kilo litre to Rs 20 across various slabs, which will come in force from Friday.

According to the new tariff rates, on a slab of 0-15 Kilo litres (KL) of water, there will be an increase of Rs 3 per KL, whereas in the category of 16 to 30 KL water there will be a spike of Rs 6 per KL.

The new tariff rates show a hike of Rs 10 per KL for 31 to 60 KL water and an increase of Rs 20 per KL for water consumption above 60 KL.

The tariff rates in the Union Territory (UT) were last revised on 24 May 2011, and since then the cost of water supply and additional infrastructure have increased manifolds, leading to continuous losses to the civic body, said the administration in an official statement.

The revised rates will come into effect from April 1. (ANI)

The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission on Thursday announced the new electricity rates with an increase of 2.68 percent in the state.

“There is an increase of 2.68 percent in electricity rates in Uttarakhand. The electricity rate has been hiked by 4 paise per unit for four lakh BPL and snowbound consumers in the state. There has been an increase of 10 to 30 paise in the domestic category,” Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman DP Gairola told ANI.
The Commission has not increased fixed charges for domestic category consumers consuming up to 100 units per month, however, the tariff has been increased by 10 paise per unit.

DP Gairola also informed that the Commission has increased the voltage rebate from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent for consumers availing of supply at 33 kV voltage level.

According to new revisions, the commission has also kept the tariff for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Tariff unchanged at Rs 5.50/kWh.

The Electricity Commission said that online payments via NEFT/RTGS/IMPS shall now be allowed a rebate of 1.25 percent from the earlier 0.75 percent.

The revised domestic electricity rates are Rs 2.90, Rs 4.20, Rs 5.80, Rs 6.55 under the categories of 0-100 units, 101-200 units, 201-400 units, above 400 units respectively.

Earlier, the domestic electricity rates were Rs 2.80, Rs 4.00, Rs 5.50, and Rs 6.25 for these respective categories. (ANI)

The doors of the Gurudwara Shri Hemkunt Sahib in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand will open for its devotees on 22 May 2022, announced the Gurudwara management.

“The doors of Gurudwara Shri Hemkunt Sahib will open for devotees on 22nd May at 10.30 AM, and for that, all the maintenance works are being done by the trust,” said Narinderjit Singh Bindra, vice-chairman, Gurudwara Shri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust.

“The Indian Army will begin removing snow from in and around the Gurudwara from the second week of April,” he added.

According to the Trust’s management, earlier in 2021, the yatra began on 18 September with the consideration of coronavirus pandemic guidelines which stated that only 1,000 doubly vaccinated devotees, with a negative RT-PCR report not older than 72 hours, were allowed to visit the gurudwara in a day.

This Gurudwara is one of the most revered Sikh pilgrimage sites.

Hemkunt Sahib (also known as Hemkund Sahib) is visited by thousands of devotees from all over the globe every summer. The Gurudwara is situated beside a lake and it is believed that the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh had meditated at the site. (ANI)

Ahead of BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Rajasthan this month, the Bharatiya Janata Party is getting battle-ready for the Assembly polls due next year in the state.

Nadda, who is scheduled to arrive in the state on Saturday will hold a meeting with the core team of the party’s Rajasthan unit to check on the preparedness ahead of the assembly polls. He is expected to visit Sawai Madhopur.

While the schedule for Amit Shah’s visit to Rajasthan is yet to be finalized, he is expected to be in the state for two days likely in mid-April. The Union Minister is expected to be in Banswara, which borders Gujarat. Apart from holding several official functions and functions for the party what is important is his meeting with the state leadership.

The visit by both Nadda and Shah is expected to boost the state leadership to prepare itself for the poll contest after having lost the last assembly polls to Ashok Gehlot-led Congress.

Notably, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, one of the key figures in the political spectrum of Rajasthan recently met top party leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.

In the 2018 Rajasthan Assembly polls, Congress won 100 seats while BJP got 73. Bahajuan Samaj Party (BSP) managed to win six seats. In the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, the majority mark is 101. (ANI)

The prices of 19 kg commercial LPG have been increased by Rs 250 per cylinder effective from Friday.

This is the second hike in a month. With this, the 19 kg commercial cooking gas will now cost Rs 2,253. The commercial LPG was increased by Rs 105 on March 1.

However, there has been no increase in the prices of domestic gas cylinders today.

Last week, the price of domestic cooking gas (LPG) was hiked by Rs 50 per cylinder. A 14.2-kg LPG cylinder is costing Rs 949.50 in Delhi from March 22 onwards.

Notably, fuel prices continue to rise with petrol and diesel rates rising by another 80 paise per litre each on Thursday, netting an increase of about Rs 6.40 a litre in nine revisions in 10 days so far.

Yesterday, staging a protest against the fuel price hike, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded the BJP-led Centre to bring the rising fuel prices under control.

Congress MPs led by Rahul Gandhi on Thursday staged a protest at Vijay Chowk on Thursday against the fuel price hike. Senior party leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Mallikarjun Kharge, Abhishek Singhvi, KC Venugopal, Shakti Sinh Gohil and others were present at the protest.

The Congress leaders protested with cutouts of LPG cylinders and placards having the slogans ‘Rollback fuel price hike’.

To take on the BJP-led central government on the issues of inflation and fuel price hike, Congress has decided to launch a nationwide programme ‘Mehngai Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ against price rises under which it will organise rallies and marches across the country from March 31 to April 7.

There had been a pause in the revision of fuel prices since November 4 last year, which was broken on March 22, following the crude oil going upwards in the wake of the Russian military operations in Ukraine.

Prices are set to be raised further given the sharp jump in crude oil prices in the international markets. It will have a cascading impact on the prices of other items and lead to inflationary pressure and hurt growth. It will have a cascading effect on the prices of other items.

Meanwhile, Congress has decided to launch a nationwide programme ‘Mehngai Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ against price rises under which it will organise rallies and marches across the country from March 31 to April 7.

Notably, on November 3 last year the Centre had cut excise duty by Rs 5 per litre on petrol and Rs 10 per litre on diesel to bring down the retail prices across the country.

Following this, several state governments had reduced Value-Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel to provide relief to people. (ANI)

The leaders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences met with actor Will Smith to discuss the ongoing slap incident, before the emergency board meeting.

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Variety, that the leaders met with Smith on Tuesday to discuss his attack on Chris Rock during the live telecast of the 2022 Oscars ceremony, on Sunday.

The outlet was informed that Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson had a conversation with the 53-year-old actor on Zoom about the fallout from the assault during Sunday’s Oscars telecast.

“The talk lasted for roughly 30 minutes,” according to what the source told Variety.

Smith apologized again to Rubin and Hudson for his action during their “brief” conversation and also expressed his awareness that there would be consequences and tried to explain why he snapped when Rock made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, who has alopecia.

Following that meeting, the Academy announced that Smith had violated the group’s code of conduct and faced “suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions.”

The Academy also revealed that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony following the incident, but he refused.

For a recap, while presenting the best documentary feature at the Oscars, comedian Chris Rock made a joke about Will Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.

Rock said he couldn’t wait to see Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia, star in ‘G.I. Jane 2’ which led Smith to go up on stage and slap Rock. Smith returned to his seat and shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fu**ing mouth!”

A few minutes after the incident, Smith was announced Best Actor at the 94th Academy Awards. While accepting his first-ever Oscar for best actor (leading role) in ‘King Richard’, Smith apologized to the Academy and fellow nominees but did not mention Rock.

Following a rage of backlash over social media, including from the Academy, Smith took to Instagram on Monday to apologize to Rock.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Rock declined to press charges against what happened at the Oscars 2022 ceremony. (ANI)