Month: March 2024

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-Top News Politics USA

Garcetti Addresses US Concerns over CAA

Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.(File Photo: Wikimedia)

Earlier this month, after the US’ remarks on CAA, the Ministry of External Affairs strongly objected to it and termed the comments “misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted.”…reports Asian Lite News

Stating that religious freedom is an important part of any democracy, the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, said that sometimes New Delhi and Washington can “agree to disagree” on certain things and it should not be read negatively.

The US State Department had earlier said that it is “concerned” over the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in India, adding that it is “closely monitoring” the implementation of the act.

Speaking to ANI, Garcetti said, “It’s something that we monitor, and I said that. And I said in broad strokes that religious freedom is an important part of any democracy. Protecting minorities is very important. That doesn’t have to be read negatively.”

“And I think it’s the job of monitoring what happens. That’s the job of an ambassador. That’s the job of a state department. The Ministry of External Affairs’ job and the Indian ambassador’s job is to monitor and to report. And we simply said that,” he added.

He further acknowledged that the US too has a “ton of flaws” and is open to criticism, while emphasising the importance of finding common international law and respecting every country’s specific history.

“We have a deep friendship. It’s very respectful. Sometimes we can agree to disagree on things and continue with our business, and we shouldn’t take it with thin skin. We shouldn’t take it personally. Certainly, I open up the United States, I say all the time, from a place of humility. We have a tonne of flaws. We’re open to criticism. We want to listen,” Garcetti said.

He added, “But I think the most important thing for all of us is to find common international law that we can all be a part of, try to implement equally, and respect the specific histories that every country has. And the more that you know about that, the better positioned you are when you are monitoring things to be able to comment.”

Earlier this month, after the US’ remarks on CAA, the Ministry of External Affairs strongly objected to it and termed the comments “misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted.”

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a weekly press briefing, said that those having a “limited understanding of India’s pluralistic traditions” should not comment on India’s ‘internal matters’.

The Union Home Ministry notified rules for the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on March 11, days ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule.

The CAA rules, introduced by the Narendra Modi government and passed by Parliament in 2019, aim to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants–including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians–who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014.

Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 enable persons eligible under CAA-2019 to apply for the grant of Indian citizenship and applications are to be submitted in a completely online mode for which a web portal has been provided by the government. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Russia’s Call: Unite Against Terrorism, India Included

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-Top News Europe India News

Russia’s Call: Unite Against Terrorism, India Included

New Delhi, Jan 18 (ANI): Denis Alipov, a career diplomat and dedicated India specialist with decades-long experience in this country has been appointed a new Russian Ambassador to India. (ANI Photo)

The remarks came after a dastardly terror attack near Moscow on March 22 left more than 140 people dead and several injured…reports Asian Lite News

Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, said on Saturday that his country is committed to fighting terrorism together with India and other nations, as he highlighted the strong statement of support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The remarks came after a dastardly terror attack near Moscow on March 22 left more than 140 people dead and several injured as terrorists, reportedly dressed in camouflage uniforms, stormed the Crocus City Hall, opening fire and setting off explosives.

“Russia is committed to decisively fight the menace of terrorism together with India and other countries bilaterally and multilaterally,” Ambassador Alipov said in a post on X.

“Strong statements of support to Russia and rejection of terrorism in all manifestations were made by Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of political parties, ministers, senior officials and public activists,” he added.

He also “highly appreciated” the sentiments towards the victims, their kin, and the Russian government shown by the people of India and other countries.

Ambassador Alipov added that the Embassy keeps receiving condolence messages expressing sympathy over the huge loss of lives and condemnation of the “monstrous terrorist attack” on March 22 near Moscow.

Expressing his solidarity with the people of Russia, PM Modi had strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief.”

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the deadly terrorist attack was carried out by radical Islamists, but “many questions still remain”.

According to Xinhua news agency, President Putin said it is already known who carried out the terrorist attack, but now “we are interested in who ordered the crime… The question arises who benefits from this”.

He has been repeatedly claiming that Ukraine could have played a role despite Kyiv vehemently denying it.

Putin has also highlighted that it is necessary to answer the question as to why the terrorists tried to go to Ukraine after carrying out the attack, and who was waiting for them there.

ALSO READ: Death toll in Russia terror attack rises to 133

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-Top News Asia News Politics

Chinese Workers in Pakistan Face New Realities

Reports indicate some are considering leaving the country due to safety concerns…reports Asian Lite News

 Apart from disrupting vital infrastructure projects, the recent suicide attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has shaken the confidence of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan.

Reports indicate some are considering leaving the country due to safety concerns, says a Pakistan security analyst.

The Pakistani government has repeatedly pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, the recent incident has eroded trust, the analyst said.

Chinese social media reflects growing anxiety, with calls for stricter security measures to protect Chinese lives, writes Pakistani security analyst Muhammad Amir Rana in Dawn.

The Shangla terrorist attack on the Chinese engineers’ vehicle is having consequences. Chinese companies have suspended work on at least three critical hydropower projects: the Dasu dam, the Diamer-Basha dam, and the Tarbela 5th Extension.

Delving into the reasons for the attack, the Pakistan security analyst said some residents in the area may sympathise with the Uighur community in Xinjiang, and others may dislike the presence of foreigners on their land. These factors could be nurturing negative perceptions about Chinese nationals in the region.

One example is seen in the blasphemy accusation against a Chinese official at the Dasu dam site last year. The incident highlighted that tensions could erupt, he said.

ALSO READ: Beijing joins probe into suicide attack on its nationals in Pakistan

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-Top News Africa News Politics

Zuma barred from running in May elections

South Africa’s Constitution bars people convicted and sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment, without an option of a fine, from holding public office….reports Asian Lite News

Former South African President Jacob Zuma is not eligible to run in upcoming elections, the Independent Electoral Commission has ruled. The commission said at a media briefing on Thursday that it had upheld an objection against Zuma’s candidacy in the May 29 elections.

In July 2021, Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for defying a court order to appear before a judicial commission that was investigating corruption allegations during his 2009-2018 presidency. He was granted medical parole after two months and allowed to serve the rest of the sentence under house arrest.

South Africa’s Constitution bars people convicted and sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment, without an option of a fine, from holding public office.

Zuma and his legal team stormed out of the judicial proceedings when he was asked about wide-ranging allegations of corruption during his rule, including the role of an Indian family, the Guptas, who allegedly had influence over his Cabinet appointments.

He is the now face of a new political party, uMkhonto weSizwe Party, abbreviated as MK, that has emerged as a potentially significant player in South Africa’s upcoming elections after he denounced the governing African National Congress, which he had previously led.

The new party is named after the former military wing of the ANC which was disbanded at the end of white minority rule and racial segregation policies under the former apartheid regime. Zuma’s announcement that he is leaving the ANC has been one of the notable developments ahead of the elections.

His face is on the MK Party’s election posters, he is the party’s most prominent figure and the main speaker at their election rallies.

His battle against the ANC has landed in some of the country’s highest courts, with the MK Party scoring a victory this week when a court ruled against the ANC’s application to deregister the MK Party and ban it from participating in the elections.

In a separate case, the ANC is contesting the MK Party’s use of its name and logo, which closely resembles that of the ANC’s former military wing.

Local news outlet News24 reported that Zuma was involved in a car accident on Thursday, but was unharmed.

ALSO READ: South Africa to arrest citizens fighting with Israeli forces

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-Top News Africa News Politics

Somalia’s parliament gives nod to historic amendments

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is seen during the presidential election in Mogadishu, Somalia, on May 15, 2022. (Photo by Hassan Bashi/Xinhua/IANS)

Speaker of the Lower House, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, announced a substantial majority in favour of amending the constitution….reports Asian Lite News

Somalia’s constitution underwent historical changes following a parliamentary vote on Saturday. Among the notable adjustments is the empowerment of the country’s president with the authority to appoint and dismiss a prime minister, Voice of Africa reported.

After weeks of intense deliberation, the bicameral federal parliament of Somalia ratified amendments to the initial four chapters of the nation’s provisional constitution.

During a joint session held in Mogadishu, legislators deliberated on each chapter individually before casting their votes on the comprehensive amendments proposed by the Independent Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission (ICRIC), according to Voice of Africa.

Speaker of the Lower House, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, announced a substantial majority in favour of amending the constitution.

“A total of 212 members of the Lower House and 42 members of the Upper House supported the amendments, with no abstentions or rejections. Therefore, the amendment has been approved with a unanimous vote,” declared Madobe.

Hussein Idow, chairperson of the Constitutional Review Committee, elucidated that three provisions concerning religion in the draft would undergo further scrutiny.

“The decision to postpone the religion provisions aims to ensure their alignment with the principles and values cherished by the Somali people,” Idow remarked.

“The provisional constitution has been under review for nearly a decade. Since 2012, three parliaments have attempted to amend it, but significant progress in finalising the review was made in late 2023. We extend our gratitude to the 11th parliament of Somalia for boldly undertaking these amendments,” added Idow.

A pivotal amendment in the ratified draft delineates the establishment of a president and a prime minister for Somalia. Under this provision, the president is granted the authority to appoint and remove the prime minister from office, thus replacing the previous requirement for the prime minister to secure a vote of confidence from parliament, thereby introducing more flexibility in the executive branch.

Somalia’s political landscape has been marked by discord between presidents and prime ministers, stemming from a complex interplay of historical, regional, clan-based, and ideological factors.

Since the inception of the presidential office in 1960, Somalia has witnessed nine official presidents. The recent four presidents, including the incumbent in his first term, have exercised the prerogative to dismiss a prime minister with parliamentary support.

Central to these disputes is the distribution of power and resources among various clans and regions within Somalia.

Constitutional experts assert that the perennial power struggles between the top offices are fundamentally rooted in the constitutional delineation of their roles.

Among the proposed amendments was a provision advocating for a presidential system where the president assumes both the roles of head of state and head of government, with ceremonial duties delegated to a vice president. However, this provision was omitted during parliamentary review.

The amended constitution stipulates a five-year term of office for government constitutional bodies and refers to regional state presidents as leaders. Additionally, it envisions the presence of three political parties, fostering a multi-party system.

Nevertheless, some political stakeholders, including former Somali Presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, along with leaders from the Puntland state, vehemently opposed this amendment, citing concerns regarding the lack of consensus among political actors.

In a separate statement issued on Saturday, a coalition of influential politicians, including former prime ministers Hassan Ali Khaire and Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, criticised President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for his role in steering the approval of the amendment.

“The president has led the nation down a perilous path, plunging it into turmoil and political uncertainty, jeopardising state-building efforts by pushing for the parliament’s approval of controversial provisions in the constitution,” the statement lamented, as reported by Voice of Africa.

In February, the ICRIC submitted proposed amendments to parliament, focusing on the initial four chapters. These amendments encompassed the age of maturity for girls and the criminalisation of female genital mutilation. The ratified amendments establish the age of maturity at 15 and the age of responsibility at 18, advocating for juvenile justice standards to safeguard individuals under 18.

However, rights groups caution that such provisions risk perpetuating existing traditional norms, potentially subjecting girls to marriage at the age of 15.

Human Rights Watch, in a statement issued on Friday, warned that the current constitutional proposal poses a threat to children, particularly girls.

“It would place girls, in particular, at a greater risk of child marriage, impacting their health, including reproductive health, access to education, and protection from other forms of abuse,” the organisation asserted.

“Somalia’s parliament must resist efforts to dilute constitutional protections for children, especially girls,” urged Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Donors to Somalia should exert pressure on the government to fulfill its commitments to uphold international human rights standards,” Voice of Africa reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Decline in Chinese Labour Force Across Africa

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-Top News Africa News Defence

UN warns of major security threat in Congo

Heavy fighting between the Congolese army and M23 has intensified in the eastern part of the country, forcing civilians to flee…reports Asian Lite News

War is on the doorstep of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Goma city and the region is at breaking point, activists and aid workers have said, as the United Nations sounds an alarm over the situation in the Central African country.

“One Congolese person out of four faces hunger and malnutrition,” Bintou Keita, the head of the UN’s DRC peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, told the UN Security Council this week, warning of a rapidly deteriorating security situation and a humanitarian crisis reaching near catastrophic levels.

Heavy fighting between the Congolese army and armed group M23 has intensified in the eastern part of the country since February, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes as the rebels make territorial gains.

The armed group “is making significant advances and expanding its territory to unprecedented levels”, Keita said at the UN on Wednesday.

This comes as fierce battles between the army and rebels have reached the outskirts of Sake, a village about 25km (15.5 miles) from regional economic hub Goma – marking a major advancement for M23.

About 250,000 people fled their homes between mid-February and mid-March, according to UN figures, with the vast majority seeking shelter in and around Goma. Pockets of makeshift tents have popped up along roads or desolated areas with no access to basic aid.

“Things are at a breaking point,” said Shelley Thakral, a World Food Programme spokesperson, after returning to Kinshasa from a trip to Goma. “It’s quite overwhelming – people are living in desperate conditions,” she told Al Jazeera. Many people have fled in a hurry with no belongings and now find themselves in cramped camps with little prospect of returning, she added.

The effects are also being felt inside Goma, where civilians have seen the price of basic commodities skyrocketing and health services being disrupted by a steady stream of refugees coming in. “The situation is at its worst and war is at the door,” said John Anibal, an activist with civil society group LUCHA based in Goma.

As the fighting spreads, it is also intensifying. According to ACLED, an independent data-collecting group, the use of explosives, shelling and air raids since the start of this year has quadrupled compared with the average in 2023.

More than 200 armed groups roam the area, vying for control of its minerals, including cobalt and coltan – two key elements needed to produce batteries for electric vehicles and gadgets, such as PlayStations and smartphones.

Among the groups, M23 has posed the biggest threat to the government since 2022 when it picked up arms again after being dormant for more than a decade. Back then, it had conquered large swaths of territory, including Goma, before being pushed back by government forces.

The conflict in eastern DRC is also deeply intertwined with the Rwandan genocide. In 1994, more than 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus were killed by violent Hutu armed groups. In the wake of the fighting, Hutu genocidaires and former regime leaders fled to the DRC.

Today, Kigali accuses Kinshasa of supporting one of the Hutu armed groups present in eastern DRC, the FDLR, which it sees as a threat to its government. And the DRC, alongside the UN and the US, have accused Rwanda of backing the M23. Kigali has denied this.

At the UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, the DRC’s ambassador to the UN Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja called on the intergovernmental body to take a stronger stance against Rwanda.

“The council must cross the Rubicon of impunity and impose on Rwanda sanctions commensurate with its crimes,” said Nzongola-Ntalaja.

Rwanda responded heatedly. The country’s UN representative, Ernest Rwamucyo, said that “ethnic cleansing targeting Congolese Tutsi communities reached unprecedented levels”.

The renewed fighting has come at a delicate moment for the country as the MONUSCO mission is pulling out of the country after 25 years at the request of the Congolese government. The first phase of the withdrawal is expected to be complete by the end of April, and all peacekeepers will leave by the end of the year.

The government of President Felix Tshisekedi accused the UN mission of failing to protect civilians. Instead, it gave soldiers of an East African regional bloc the mandate to fight back against the rebels.

But that ended last December after the president accused the regional force of colluding with the rebels instead of fighting them. So he turned to another force, SADECO, composed of southern African nations to do the job.

Observers are sceptical that this new mission will succeed where its predecessors failed.

“I don’t see this as a stabilising intervention, at most, it will postpone the issue because there is no one military solution,” said Felix Ndahinda, a researcher on conflict in the Great Lakes Region.

Structural weaknesses in governance, lack of state presence in remote regions and interethnic rivalries, are among causes that the state is failing to address, Ndahinda told Al Jazeera.

“In the last 30 years, different interventions have been addressing partial symptoms of the problem rather than looking at the full picture – till that is not done, you can only postpone, but not resolve, the issue,” Ndahinda said.

ALSO READ: Decline in Chinese Labour Force Across Africa

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Sport Sports

DC to Clash with CSK in IPL 2024 Showdown

New Delhi : DC's Axar Patel plays a shot during the IPL 2023 match between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings at Arun Jaitley Stadium, in New Delhi, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo:Biplab Banerjee/IANS)

The two teams faced each other 29 times in the tournament with five-time champion CSK having the upper hand on DC….reports Asian Lite News

Delhi Capitals (DC) will take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 13 of the IPL 2024 on Sunday.

The two teams faced each other 29 times in the tournament with five-time champion CSK having the upper hand on DC.

DC v CSK Head-to-Head 29:

Delhi Capitals – 10

Chennai Super Kings – 19

DC v CSK Match time: The Match starts at 7:30 PM IST (2:00 PM GMT) with toss taking place half an hour prior to the match i.e., 7:00 PM (1:30 PM GMT)

DC v CSK match venue: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

Live broadcast of DC v CSK match on television in India: DC v CSK match will be broadcast live via Star Sports Network.

Live stream in India: The live streaming of DC v CSK will be available on JioCinema.

Weather conditions:

The excessive heat and humidity in Visakhapatnam might challenge players.

Squads:

Delhi Capitals: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Ricky Bhui, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Sumit Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Abishek Porel, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Praveen Dubey, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar Salam, Ishant Sharma, Jhye Richardson, Shai Hope, Prithvi Shaw, Lalit Yadav, Yash Dhull, Vicky Ostwal, Swastik Chikara

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni(w), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana, Shardul Thakur, Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu, Mitchell Santner, Maheesh Theekshana, Moeen Ali, Devon Conway, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Prashant Solanki, Mukesh Choudhary, Simarjeet Singh, RS Hangargekar, Aravelly Avanish

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Business Economy India News

India’s Forex Reserves Rise to $642.63 Billion

The foreign exchange reserves went up by $140 million in the reporting week….reports Asian Lite News

India’s foreign exchange reserves rose for a fifth straight week to touch the $642.63 billion mark as of March 22, according to RBI data released on Friday.

The foreign exchange reserves went up by $140 million in the reporting week. The increase is largely due to the value of the gold reserves, which also form part of the foreign exchange kitty, rising by $347 million.

The foreign currency portion of the total reserves, however, declined by $123 million during the week. Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. Similarly, SDRs were also down by $57 million.

In the preceding week that ended on March 15, the forex reserves had increased by a more robust $6.4 billion to scale a record high of $642.49 billion. Prior to this, the forex kitty had risen by $20 billion in the previous three weeks.

Rising foreign exchange reserves are positive for the economy as they reflect an ample supply of dollars that help to strengthen the rupee.

An increase in the foreign exchange reserves gives the RBI more headroom to stabilise the rupee when it turns volatile.

This is because the RBI intervenes in the spot and forward currency markets by releasing more dollars to prevent the rupee from going into a free fall.

Conversely, a declining forex kitty leaves the RBI less space to intervene in the market to prop up the rupee.

India’s forex reserves, including the central bank’s forward holdings, can now cover more than 11 months of imports, which is close to a two-year high.

Seoul: An electronic signboard in the dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul on Feb. 25, 2022, shows the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) having gained 28.05 points, or 1.06 percent, to 2,676.85, following an overnight jump on Wall Street despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Yonhap/IANS)

Foreigners Net Buy Over 15 Trillion Won of South Korean Stocks

Foreigners net purchased over 15 trillion won ($11.7 billion) worth of local shares in the first three months of the year in South Korea, breaching the 15 trillion-won mark for the first time in history, data showed on Saturday.

Foreign investors scooped up a net 15.77 trillion won worth of shares in the first quarter, the highest quarterly figure since the country’s main stock exchange KRX began compiling such data in 1998.

The previous record was 14.79 trillion won tallied in the third quarter of 2009, according to the KRX, reports Yonhap news agency.

Foreigners mostly purchased shares in semiconductor and auto industries, along with low price-to-book (PBR) stocks that are expected to benefit from the government-led corporate value-up program.

They scooped up 5.5 trillion won worth of shares of Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest supplier of memory chips, followed by 2.14 trillion won worth of leading carmaker Hyundai Motor and 1.75 trillion won worth of shares in No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix.

The stock price of the 10 most purchased shares increased by an average 22.6 percent during the cited period, compared with a 3.4 percent gain for all listed firms on the main KOSPI market.

Experts, however, expect foreign buying to slow down in the second quarter.

“The rise in foreign buying is likely to slow down in the second quarter. They may seek to cash in gains before the end of the second quarter, collecting part of the fund they invested in the market due to the temporary ban on stock short selling, which is set to end at the end of the second quarter,” said Byun Joon-ho, an analyst at IBK Securities.

“They may also start selling (local shares) since the U.S. Federal Reserve may start cutting rates in the second quarter,” he added.

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Business Economy Technology

Experts Laud RIL-Adani Deal as Boost for India’s Power Sector

The power sector experts hoped that many more such collaborations will take place in the wake of a further push by the Centre and different state governments to liberalise the sector….reports Asian Lite News

Power sector experts on Friday hailed the collaboration between the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and the Adani Group headed by Gautam Adani following RIL’s move to pick up 26 per cent stake in Adani Group’s power plant in Madhya Pradesh.

They claimed that it is one of the major chapters in India’s power sector, especially with its installed capacity of 4,28,000 MW and an ambitious plan to add 500,000 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

The power sector experts hoped that many more such collaborations will take place in the wake of a further push by the Centre and different state governments to liberalise the sector.

As per the collaboration, RIL will purchase 26 per cent in Mahan Energen, a subsidiary of Adani Power, for Rs 50 crore and procure 500 MW of electricity for the Madhya Pradesh plant.

According to Adani Power, one of the 600 MW capacity of the Mahan thermal power plant in Madhya Pradesh will be designated as a captive unit as per the stipulated norms.

Commenting on the development, former Power Secretary R.V. Shahi said, “The collaboration between two of the largest groups in the country is bound to provide a fillip to not only such cooperations, but also to other collaborative efforts, leading to even higher heights of success.”

“What has been achieved post the Electricity Act, 2003 is more than three times of what was achieved during the 50 years prior to that,” he added.

“This is the era of renewable energy, which is also facilitated by the de-licensing of power generation which took the growth in the power sector to a different orbit. By 2032, we are geared to achieve more 800,000 MW of capacity.

“The entire capacity could be doubled in the following 10 years after 2032, taking the capacity to more than 1,500 GW. This will be at the core of India’s development strategy of raising the GDP to $5 trillion and subsequently higher,” said Shahi.

Ashok Khurana, Director General, Association of Power Producers, said “This collaboration has happened because of the liberalised captive power supply framework coupled with the change in transmission licensing system, where the consumers have been allowed transmission licences while the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has simplified the procedures for the same. In fact, we will see many such collaborations coming up between the generators and the consumers.”

Jayant Deo, a former member of the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), asserted that the two top business houses of India collaborating in the power sector is a good omen for the country’s march towards energy security.

The Founder of the Independent Power Producers Association of India, Harry Dhaul, pointed out that such collaborations are positive steps for the growth of the Indian power sector from the energy security point of view.

Long-Term Power Purchase Agreement Sealed

An investment agreement has been entered into among Mahan Energen Limited (MEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Power Limited (APL), Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and APL, in terms of which RIL has agreed to subscribe and MEL has agreed to allot 5 crore equity shares with face value of Rs 10 each to RIL at par.

RIL said in a filing that the proposed investment by the company is in compliance with the provisions of Electricity Rules, 2005 in terms of which the company, as a captive user, is required to own 26 per cent proportionate ownership in one unit of MEL of 600 MW capacity, with RIL being the captive user of 500 MW generation capacity.

RIL and MEL have entered into a 20-year long term power purchase agreement for this purpose, RIL said.

MEL, a company engaged in generation and supply of power, was incorporated on October 19, 2005. The turnover of MEL, as per its audited standalone financial statement, for financial years 2022-23, 2021-22 and 2020-21 was Rs 2,730.68 crore, Rs 1,393.59 crore and Rs 692.03 crore, respectively.

“The investment is not a related party transaction and none of the company’s promoter/promoter group/group companies have any interest in the said investment,” RIL said.

“The investment is subject to customary conditions precedent including receipt of requisite approvals by MEL and is expected to be completed within 2 weeks of receipt of completion of conditions precedent and receipt of such approvals by MEL,” RIL said.

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-Top News INDIA 2024 India News

‘BJP targeting opposition, fearing losing polls’

Bengaluru, Feb 27 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar casts his vote for the Rajya Sabha elections, in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

Shivakumar informed that he was also served with notice despite case against him is closed….reports Asian Lite News

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the BJP was tormenting the Opposition parties as it feared losing the elections.

Speaking to reporters at the KPCC office on the IT notice to AICC, he said, “BJP is targeting the Opposition parties, especially the Congress and Left, as it knows it is losing the election.”

“We are a democracy, but the BJP is abusing the Opposition parties through IT officials. Nothing is permanent in politics. India alliance will come to power and the BJP is aware of it and hence it is resorting to these things,” he added.

Shivakumar informed that he was also served with notice despite case against him is closed.

“The case against me is closed and yet the IT department has sent me a notice last night. There are many BJP leaders who are facing charges but no investigation has been carried out against them or notices served. The BJP is targeting only the Opposition leaders. They file a B report and close the cases if one joins the BJP,” he said.

Asked if Union Home Minister Amit Shash was targeting the DK brothers by holding a mega rally in Channapattana, Shivakumar said, “The stronger we become, the more the opponents we have. The stronger we emerge, the more power we will have. Let the prime minister also come. We are used to fighting bigwigs. There is no leader who has performed last rites of Covid victims. Where were the Central leaders when Suresh was helping people affected by the pandemic?”

Further, when asked about announcement of candidate for Kolar constituency, he said, “I have had discussions with Muniyappa and other leaders and they have given their opinions. There is no scope for groupism in the party. We have given clear instructions to the leaders that they have to work for the party. We have given the ticket to an ordinary party worker and all the leaders have to work for his victory.”

“Everyone will work for the party. There was a demand for the ticket to left hand among Dalits, there is nothing wrong in it. We have to look at the overall picture of the State as left hand is stronger in 10 constituencies. We have taken all these things into consideration,” he added.

In mounting troubles for Congress amid the Lok Sabha poll campaign, the Income Tax Department has issued a demand notice of about Rs 1700 crore to the party, sources said.

They said the fresh demand notice is for assessment years 2017-18 to 2020-21 and includes penalty and interest. (ANI)

Priyanka attacks BJP over Reddy’s re-entry 

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) over former minister and MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy’s re-entry into the BJP.

Taking to social media platform X, she wrote, “Janardhan Reddy, accused in the Rs 35,000 crore scam, joined the BJP. 20 different cases are against him, including 9 CBI cases. There are allegations of destroying forests and mines. There are allegations of an attempt to buy the judge for Rs 40 crore instead of bail.”

Lashing out at the Prime Minister and the BJP, she said, “The BJP is welcoming him with open arms. Modiji is selectively washing corrupt people from across the country in the washing machine named BJP.”

Further slamming the BJP over Praful Patel, she stated that yesterday there were reports in the media that the CBI had filed a closure report in the case of a Maharashtra leader who had joined the BJP eight months ago.

“The Prime Minister, who once accused him of a scam worth thousands of crores, is now taking the same person with him and washing away all his ‘taints’,” she added.

Alleging the misuse of central agencies, she said that on one hand, giving protection to the notoriously corrupt people, intimidating the opposition leaders by agencies, taking them under their wing and getting the cases closed and on the other hand, weakening the opposition by implicating them in fake cases, sealing their bank accounts–this is what the government is doing, she added.

Earlier, former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the re-entry of Janardhan Reddy has added new strength to the BJP. (ANI)

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