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Kenyan president dismisses Cabinet

Critics accused the president of choosing political cronies and departing from the previous practice of picking technocrats to be in charge of ministries…reports Asian Lite News

Kenyan President William Ruto dismissed almost all of his Cabinet ministers and promised to form a new government that will be lean and efficient following weeks of protests over high taxes and poor governance.

In a televised address, the president also dismissed the attorney general and said ministries will be run by their permanent secretaries.

Ruto said he made the decision after listening to the people and that he would form a broad-based government after consultations.

Kenya has seen three weeks of unrest in which protesters stormed into parliament on June 25 after a finance bill was passed that proposed tax increases. More than 30 people died in the protests, which have morphed into calls for the president to resign.

Ruto said the prime Cabinet secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, a key political ally, would remain in office.

He said the dismissals followed “a holistic appraisal of the performance” of the Cabinet and that the new government would help him “in accelerating and expediting the necessary, urgent and irreversible implementation of radical programs to deal with the burden of debt, raising domestic resources, expanding job opportunities, eliminating wastage and unnecessary duplication of a multiplicity of government agencies and slay the dragon of corruption.”

Ruto appointed 21 Cabinet ministers following his election in 2022. Critics accused the president of choosing political cronies and departing from the previous practice of picking technocrats to be in charge of ministries.

Three ministers resigned from their elected positions to take up ministerial appointments. Others lost the election and were seen as being awarded by the president with political appointments.

Several ministries including agriculture and health have been engulfed by corruption scandals involving fake fertilizer and misappropriation of funds.

The protesters accused the Cabinet of incompetence, arrogance and displays of opulence as Kenyans battle with high taxes and a cost of living crisis.

Demonstrators called for the president’s resignation even though he said he would not sign the finance bill that proposed higher taxes.

Ruto apologized for the “arrogance and show of opulence” by legislators and ministers and said he took responsibility and would speak to them.

He also announced austerity measures including the dissolution of 47 state corporations with overlapping functions to save money and the withdrawal of funding for the first lady’s office, among others.

Analyst and commentator Herman Manyora called the dismissal of the Cabinet a “bold move” that was necessary to quell the discontent in the country.

This is the first time a sitting president has dismissed Cabinet ministers under the new constitution. The last time a similar move occurred was in 2005 after a failed referendum when then-President Mwai Kibaki dismissed his ministers to assert his political authority.

Kenya police boss quits

Kenya’s police boss resigned Friday, the latest attempt by the country’s president to respond to growing concerns of police brutality in response to protests triggered by a proposed tax hike.

Protesters stormed parliament on June 25 after a bill was passed that proposed tax increases, forcing lawmakers to flee through an underground tunnel. Police responded by opening fire on protesters in the streets. The protests have morphed into calls for President William Ruto to resign.

Ruto has sought to respond to the social outcry with a series of steps. He withdrew the tax hike proposal and on Thursday he followed up by dismissing almost all of his Cabinet ministers. He vowed to form a new government that will be lean and efficient.

In his latest move Friday, Ruto accepted the resignation of inspector general Japhet Koome. The presidential office said the deputy, Douglas Kanja, would step in as acting inspector general.

The social unrest has played out in a country generally viewed as a regional leader in Africa due to its size and political stability, and which is a key ally of Western countries in the counterterrorism fight and other issues. Underlining its international role, 400 Kenyan police landed in violence-hit Haiti in recent weeks to lead a UN-backed multinational force. Underlying Kenya’s stature, President Joe Biden honored Ruto with a state dinner at the White House in May.

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Ramaphosa unveils new coalition cabinet

Following intense negotiations, South African President has appointed opposition politicians to key ministerial positions in new cabinet…reports Asian Lite News

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his new government on Sunday with the former opposition parties getting 12 out of 32 portfolios after the ruling ANC lost its outright parliamentary majority.

The African National Congress (ANC), which has governed the country since the advent of democracy in 1994, kept 20 out of 32 cabinet positions. They included key ministries such as foreign affairs, finance, defence, justice and police.

A statement from the party welcomed the president’s announcement as “an important step forward, and a testament to the resilience of our democracy”.

The largest coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), will hold six portfolios including home affairs, environment and public works. DA leader John Steenhuisen, 48, was appointed Minister of Agriculture.

A statement from the party hailed a “new era in South Africa’s democratic journey” where they would have “zero tolerance for corruption”.

The Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), anti-immigration party Patriotic Alliance and right-wing Afrikaans party Freedom-Front Plus and other smaller parties got six cabinet places between them.

They included responsibility for land reform, correctional services, sports, tourism and public service.

“The establishment of the Government of National Unity in its current form is unprecedented in the history of our democracy,” said 71-year-old Ramaphosa, speaking from Pretoria in a televised speech.

He was re-elected for a second full term last week, to lead what his humbled ANC calls a government of national unity (GNU), having lost its outright majority in the May 29 general election.

“The incoming government will prioritise rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and a creation of a more just society by tackling poverty and inequality as well as unemployment,” he said.

He had to “ensure all the parties are able to participate meaningfully in the national executive as well as various parliamentary positions”, he added.

The only other time South Africa has opted for a national unity government was at the end of apartheid. That was when Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk, the former leader of the government, oversaw the transition to democracy as executive deputy presidents.

The ANC’s fall from grace came against a backdrop of high violent crime rates, a lacklustre economy and a crippling energy crisis.

Ramaphosa’s highly anticipated announcement came after weeks of tough negotiations between the ANC and the DA, which won 87 parliamentary seats (22 percent of the popular vote) to the ANC’s 159 (40 percent).

The building of the new government was criticised by leftist parties, including the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, a new grouping formed a few months ahead of the poll by the country’s former president Jacob Zuma, 82.

The MK party came out of nowhere to win more than 14 percent of votes nationwide in the poll and now may well be the country’s official opposition after refusing to join the ANC’s broad coalition.

Along with the leftist firebrand party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), it shunned the ANC’s broad coalition with the DA as a “white-led unholy alliance”.

The ANC had previously accused the DA of making “outrageous demands” for key cabinet positions in documents leaked to the press following weeks of closed-doors negotiations.

The EFF said in a Sunday statement that the announcement had confirmed “our longstanding view” that the GNU was “nothing but a smokescreen for the ANC to secure a predetermined grand coalition with the racist DA”.

It also criticised the impact of the “increased and bloated” cabinet of taxpayer’s money.

Ramaphosa has called for the opening of the new parliament on July 18 to address MPs and outline guidelines of how his new coalition government, involving 11 parties, will work.

The President said that the new government will prioritise those issues. “We have shown that there are no problems that are too difficult or too intractable that they cannot be solved through dialogue,” he said.

Steenhuisen, in a statement following the announcement, said: “We look forward to being part of a new era in South Africa’s democratic journey, and to bringing real and tangible change to the millions of citizens who voted for it.”

It took over a month of complex political manoeuvring, and concessions from the ANC, to stitch together the government. It maintained its hold on the ministry of trade and industry, a key portfolio that the DA also sought. ANC’s Paul Mashatile will also continue as Deputy President. DA leader John Steenhuisen was appointed minister of agriculture.

The coalition’s performance depends on how they keep their ideological differences aside. The DA, ANC’s enemy party, wants to scrap some of the ANC’s black empowerment programmes and it also opposes the ANC’s desire to expropriate land.

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New House, new mandate, new challenges for Modi

New Delhi, July 01 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Parliament session, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)

Like in his former speeches, Modi did not speak about his plans to resolve the sectarian conflict in Manipur, which has been in a state of a limbo for over a year now…reports Asian Lite News

The 18th Lok Sabha‘s first session seems to have left a deep, indelible mark on BJP’s psyche. With the days of a brute majority firmly behind, the muted yet loud saffron party saw a more organized and vocal Opposition hurting BJP where it pains most.

The charge was led by the newly minted Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who launched a pincer attack on Hindutva, NEET exams, paper leaks, and the Agniveer Scheme. The tirade by the Congress leader which lasted for 100 minutes deflated the BJP’s core focus on Hindutva. Rahul Gandhi’s maiden speech as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on July 1, during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to retort that Gandhi had insulted Hindus by calling them violent, as Gandhi targeted the BJP by saying “those who call themselves Hindus indulge in hate and violence round the clock”.

The speech was marked with confrontation, interruptions and interjections from senior Ministers including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, besides Prime Minister.

Holding up a photo of Lord Shiva, a combative Gandhi started his speech by taking on the Hindutva plank of the BJP and said his own party’s symbol – the hand – is like the abhay mudra (the right hand held upright with the palm facing outwards) and it has resonance with all religions including Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism. He also displayed photos of Guru Nanak and Jesus Christ.

The Congress leader’s attack though expunged by the Speaker citing rules revealed a chink in BJP’s armor that they weren’t the flagbearers of India’s majority community. This was reiterated by Congress MP KC Venugopal who said, “A real Hindu is a person who understands the message of debate, tolerance and human values. Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse, both believed in the Bhagavad Gita. Both Mahatma Gandhi and Godse read the Bhagavad Gita, but Mahatma Gandhi learned non-violence, tolerance, respect for human lives and the message of Lord Krishna from the holy book. Whereas Godse learned violence, murder and intolerance from the same texter.”

Modi’s bravado

The Opposition attack NEET exams, paper leaks, and the Agniveer Scheme also dented the bravado of the Prime Minister who had taken great pride in launching these plans.

Making a frontal attack on policies of the government, the Congress leader called the Agniveer scheme for defence forces as a brainchild of Modi that treated them as “use and throw labourers without adequate compensation”. He also accused the government of unleashing a civil war in Manipur; alleged that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) was turned into a commercial exam from a professional one; questioned why the government had not made minimum support price (MSP) a legal guarantee; and targeted the government over price rise and unemployment.

However, contrary to expectations that Modi may tone down his brawny posturing after his party fell short of a majority, the prime minister, while delivering his first speech in the 18th Lok Sabha, doubled down on his aggressive rhetoric centred around muscular nationalism, Hindutva, economic reforms and the self-aggrandising projection of his government as a crusader against corruption.

Crucially, he clubbed all criticisms of his government as “deshvirodhi kshadyantra”, or anti-national conspiracy, and vowed to nip all such conspiracies in the bud, indicating a surefooted continuity in the way his government has cracked down strongly against protestors, dissenters and critics.

“Modi is still strong, his voice is still strong and his determination is also strong. I want to assure all Indian people that Modi is not one to be scared and nor will be his government,” Modi said as he thumped his chest.

Ever since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections reduced the BJP to the 240 mark from 303 seats in 2019, the prime minister has taken care to signal continuity from his side. Most of his ministers remain the same, even as he dismissed all speculation to let Om Birla continue as Lok Sabha speaker.

Like in his former speeches, Modi did not speak about his plans to resolve the sectarian conflict in Manipur, which has been in a state of a limbo for over a year now.

As in all his previous speeches, Modi chose the Congress as his central target of attack. “From 2024 onwards, the Congress will be seen as a parasitic party,” he said, while alleging that the grand old party’s improved figure in the Lok Sabha was largely because of the support it received from its regional allies.

In his patently roundabout way of replying to the opposition’s campaign, Modi said that those who are questioning the government on the issue of ending reservations should remember that the Congress has always been anti-reservation, citing speeches made in a particular historical context by Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

“Some people in India are conspiring to strengthen anti-India forces. Indians need to remain alert. I want to give a warning to this ecosystem that those who prevent our nation’s progress will be dealt with in their own language,” Modi said, adding that he won’t compromise on questions of national security, come what may.

Modi may be weakened, but his posturing in the Lok Sabha signals a rigid continuity in his government’s authoritarian impulses.

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Major ministries unchanged in Modi 3.0

The broad signal of continuity with change is reinforced by the fact that the BJP has kept key portfolios including Education, Railways, Road Transport and Highways, Agriculture, Housing, Rural Development, Petroleum and Natural Gas…reports Asian Lite News

Continuing the work done in the second term with a refresh rather than a reboot – this is the key signal from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers as their portfolios were announced Monday evening, a day after the NDA government took oath for the third term.

Given the political imperatives of a coalition in which the BJP, short of a majority, needs allies, the Council may have been expanded to 72 but the portfolio allocation reflected continuity in critical areas where progress is cumulative – with no change in the Cabinet Cabinet on Security.

Rajnath Singh was retained as Defence Minister, so was Amit Shah as Home Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman as Finance Minister and S Jaishankar as External Affairs Minister. Shah also retained the Ministry of Cooperation while Sitharaman will continue to have Corporate Affairs portfolio with her besides Finance.

This also put to rest speculation on whether coalition compulsions would have a role to play in the composition of the CCS.

Keeping the CCS unchanged, Modi leveraged the experience and domain expertise of former Chief Ministers he inducted into his Cabinet. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, credited for the transformation in the state’s agriculture sector, got charge at the national level where he is expected to bring fresh impetus to the Centre’s efforts to address agrarian challenges and stalled reforms after the repeal of the farm laws.

Two-term CM of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar has been given Housing and Urban Affairs – which will be in charge of the Smart City flagship program — and Power. H D Kumaraswamy, another two-term CM, will handle Heavy Industries and Steel, two key infrastructure sectors.

The broad signal of continuity with change is reinforced by the fact that the BJP has kept key portfolios including Education, Railways, Road Transport and Highways besides Agriculture, Housing and Urban Affairs, Rural Development, Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Indeed, as many as 15 ministers from the previous term have retained their portfolios including Rao Inderjit Singh (Statistics, Planning); Jitendra Singh (Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS in the PMO; Personnel; Atomic Energy and Space); Arjun Ram Meghwal (Law and MoS Parliamentary Affairs).

Under Nitin Gadkari’s watch, the BJP government had made significant strides in expansion of highways and road network and Gadkari has been retained as Road Transport and Highways minister.

National president of BJP J P Nadda now handles Health as well as Chemicals and Fertilisers – the two ministries that will play a key role in expansion of the flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme and the Jan Aushadhi Scheme.

Modi, who stressed on continuity and stability in his internal meetings, according to a source, flagged the need to ensure minimum disruption in sectors where reforms are work in progress.

Piyush Goyal, who won his maiden Lok Sabha election from Mumbai North, will continue to handle Commerce and Industry. The Education Ministry, another significant portfolio in need of a sharper skills-based focus, remains with Dharmendra Pradhan, who secured an impressive electoral victory from Odisha where the party is set to form a government on its own for the first time after winning the state polls.

There is no change in the portfolios of Bhupender Yadav who was given Environment, Forest and Climate Change again. Former diplomat Hardeep Singh Puri has retained Petroleum and Natural Gas with Housing and Urban Affairs going to Khattar.

The BJP retained another key infrastructure ministry, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, which stayed with Sarbananda Sonowal. Similarly, the BJP has kept Railways. Ashwini Vaishnaw has been given that portfolio along with Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology.

The portfolios of some Ministers have been switched. Giriraj Singh has been moved to Textiles from Rural Development and Panchayati Raj; Jyotiraditya Scindia to Communications from Civil Aviation; Mansukh Mandaviya to Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs Sports from Health; G Kishan Reddy to Coal and Mines from Culture and Tourism.

C R Paatil, president of Gujarat BJP unit, has been given charge of Jal Shakti ministry. His predecessor, Gajendra Shekhawat, is now the minister of Culture and Tourism. Modi has given the charge of Parliamentary affairs, a crucial role given the demands of coalition politics, to Kiren Rijiju. Women and Child Development, handled by Smriti Irani in the previous government, has gone to Annapurna Devi, an emerging leader from poll-bound Jharkhand. Virendra Kumar retained Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment;

Pralhad Joshi, who was in charge of Parliamentary Affairs and Coal and Mines, has been given Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; and New and Renewable Energy Ministries. Tribal Affairs has gone to Jual Oram, who held the same portfolio in Modi’s first term.

Accommodating allies, whom he needs for stability in the government, Modi has allocated the key Civil Aviation portfolio to young TDP minister K Ram Mohan Naidu. Incidentally, the TDP had got Civil Aviation in 2014 as well when the Chandrababu Naidu-led party was a member of the ruling NDA.

Chirag Paswan, who represents the five-member LJP (Ram Vilas), got Food Processing, a ministry his father and Bihar veteran late Ram Vilas Paswan had held. Former president of 12-member JDU Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh has got Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

The ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), a sector that plays a crucial role in powering small businesses and job creation, has gone to one-member party HAM’s Jitan Ram Majhi.

Shiv Sena’s Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao, who is a Minister of State with independent charge has been given the Ministry of Ayush and MoS charge in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Similarly, RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary — another MoS (independent charge) — has been given Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and MoS charge in the Ministry of Education.

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30 cabinet ministers in Modi govt 3.0

36 MoS, 5 MoS (independent charge) from the BJP and allies take the oath of office with Narendra Modi…reports Asian Lite News

The President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India at the magnificent swearing-in ceremony that took place on June 9 with 30 cabinet ministers, 36 MoS, 5 MoS (independent charge) from the BJP and its allies joining the party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

At the ceremonial event held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday, the President administered the oaths of office and secrecy to the newly appointed members of the Council of Ministers. “The President of India has appointed Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi as the Prime Minister of India. Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has appointed the following as members of the Council of Ministers,” read an official statement.

The following leaders took oath as Cabinet Ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Raj Nath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Nirmala Sitharaman, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Manohar Lal, HD Kumaraswamy, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Sarbananda Sonowal, Virendra Kumar, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Pralhad Joshi, Jual Oram, Giriraj Singh, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Bhupender Yadav, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Annpurna Devi, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, Mansukh Mandaviya, G Kishan Reddy, Chirag Paswan and C R Patil took oath as Cabinet Ministers on Sunday. Additionally, the following were sworn in as Ministers of State (Independent Charge): Rao Inderjit Singh, Jitendra Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao and Jayant Chaudhary.

The new Ministers of State include: Jitin Prasada, Shripad Yesso Naik, Pankaj Chaudhary, Krishan Pal Ramdas AthawaleRam Nath Thakur Nityanand Rai Anupriya Patel V. Somanna, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, SP Singh Baghel, Sushri Sobha Karandlaje, Kirtivardhan Singh, BL Verma, Shantanu Thakur, Suresh Gopi, L Murugan, Ajay Tamta, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Kamlesh Paswan, Bhagirath Choudhary, Satish Chandra Dubey, Sanjay Seth, Ravneet Singh, Durgadas Uikey, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Sukanta Majumdar, Savitri Thakur, Tokhan Sahu, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, Harsh Malhotra, Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, Murlidhar Mohol, George Kurian and Pabitra Margherita. The colourful swearing-in event, which reflected the rich diversity and vibrancy of India, was attended by senior political leaders, diplomats, leading industrialists, Bollywood actors and several other prominent personalities.

Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afif and Bangladesh PM Sheik Hasina attended the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi. PM Modi’s oath-taking ceremonies have seen special foreign policy outreach. He began his first term in office in 2014 in the presence of all Heads of State of SAARC nations. He invited BIMSTEC leaders at the start of the second term in 2019. The council of ministers is a blend of youth and experience with senior BJP leaders including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar taking the oath of office. Several young leaders from the BJP and allies, including first-time MPs, also made it to the council of ministers. Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi, who is the first BJP MP from Kerala and Harsh Malhotra, who won Lok Sabha polls from East Delhi, are among the first-time MPs in the union cabinet.BJP chief JP Nadda also took oath as union minister in an indication that the party could have a new chief. PM Modi’s ministers’ team has 30 Cabinet ministers, five Ministers of State with Independent charge and 36 Ministers of State. Most of MPs took oath in Hindi while some took it in English. Meanwhile, leaders from the BJP-led NDA coalition voiced confidence and enthusiasm for the formation of the Modi 3.0 government, highlighting ambitious goals for India’s future. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the country will be ranked the third largest economy in the next 5 years.

“Today is a very happy day for us. After 50-60 years today is a historic day because Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive time after 60 years. In the next 5 years the goal of making India the greatest economy is going to be fulfilled and the country will be ranked third largest economy. India will develop and move ahead in the next 5 years,” Shinde said. He further emphasized the government’s determination to surpass the “400 Paar” milestone in the near future.

The newly elected Union Minister Chirag Paswan credited the Prime Minister for entrusting his party, Lok Janshakti Party (RamVilas), with significant responsibilities, vowing to deliver on the trust placed in him. “It’s a big moment but moreover it’s a huge responsibility for me. I will focus all my attention and dedicate myself wholeheartedly to fulfilling the immense responsibility entrusted to me by Prime Minister Ji, with complete honesty and hard work, ensuring that I can fulfil it to the best of my ability,” Paswan said.

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Himachal Pradesh’s ‘Kangra’ Focused Development Boost

Kangra is set to witness the development of a Rs 5 crore park and a selfie point worth Rs 30 lakh. Additionally, the Tandon Club will undergo expansion with a grant of Rs 1.5 crore…reports Asian Lite News

The Cabinet Minister in Himachal Pradesh and Chairman of the Himachal Tourism Board, RS Bali on Saturday announced a series of transformative initiatives in Kangra aimed at enhancing cultural and recreational facilities in the region.

The highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Mata Brajeshwari Public Library in the Joint Office Building in Kangra.
Bali emphasised the importance of cultivating a reading culture, announcing plans to establish library rooms in every senior secondary school across the state.

Expressing his appreciation for the initiative, Bali commended SDM Kangra Somil Gautam for the construction of the Mata Brajeshwari Public Library.He also highlighted the critical role of a conducive environment in shaping the aspirations of the youth, expressing gratitude for the efforts of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh in improving educational facilities in the state.

Bali also revealed plans to introduce digital libraries at various locations in the state, providing readers with access to a diverse collection of digital documents over the internet. In a bid to enhance the recreational landscape, RS Bali announced a generous allocation of funds. Kangra is set to witness the development of a Rs 5 crore park and a selfie point worth Rs 30 lakh. Additionally, the Tandon Club will undergo expansion with a grant of Rs 1.5 crore.

Recognising the aftermath of the Kangra flood, a sum of Rs 3 lakh was pledged for the channelization of drains, and directives were issued to provide designated spaces for street vendors. Bali further shared plans for future collaborations with the Chief Minister, including discussions about building a complex on vacant land in Tehsil Chowk.

Welcoming the chief guest, Kangra Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Somil Gautam highlighted the pivotal role of public libraries in providing the youth with opportunities to shape their future.
The event witnessed the presence of several distinguished guests, including President of Youth Congress Kangra Ishant Chaudhary, former MLAs Surendra Kaku and Amit Verma, and Block Congress President Nageshwar Mankotiya, who addressed the gathering.
The event was attended by SDM Nagrota Wagwa Munish Sharma, Block Congress President Nageshwar Mankotiya, State General Secretary Ajay Verma, DSP Ankit Sharma, Municipal Council Vice President Suman Verma, Congress State Spokesperson Ashok Himachali, and BDC President Babita Sandhu. Councillor Sanjeev Gupta, Temple Officer Neelam Kumari, Child Development Project Officer Vandana Katoch, Country Congress Committee Member Rajesh Raja, Youth Congress President Ishant Chaudhary, Video Tavinder Chanauriya, State Congress Committee Member Nishu Mogra, Executive of Nagrota Bagwan Officer Kanchan Bala, Rita Mankotia, BDC member Kanta Saroch, along with officers, employees, and workers from various departments, were also present. (ANI)

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Strong and united team is going to deliver, says Sunak

James Cleverly replaced Braverman as the Home Secretary…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressed a meeting with his new-look cabinet on Tuesday, a day after the major reshuffle that saw the return of former PM David Cameron to the cabinet and the sacking of Suella Braverman.

During his remarks, the UK PM stressed not just delivering on the promises but also building a better future for the upcoming generations with reforms in education, healthcare and climate change.

Addressing the meeting, Sunak said, “Our purpose is nothing less than to make the long-term decisions that are going to change the country for the better. And I know that this strong and united team is going to deliver that change for everybody”.

The UK PM called the coming week as important as during this inflation numbers will be released, the Autumn Statement will be delivered and the apex court will give the ruling on the government’s Rwanda Plan, which was held “unlawful” by the Appeals Court earlier this year.

“But you know that is not the limit of our ambitions. We want to build a better future for our children and our grandchildren. And that’s what this team is going to do, whether it’s navigating the crisis in Ukraine, or in the Middle East to demonstrate that we will stand up for our values and provide security for everyone here at home, but also to make the big bold decisions that will drive the change,” he said.

“Looking around this table, I know that we have an energetic and enthusiastic team that is going to deliver for the country. So, let’s get to work,” Sunak added.

Earlier on Monday, in a major cabinet rejig, Sunak sacked Home Secretary Suella Braverman amid mounting pressure over her criticism of the Metropolitan Police for allegedly “going soft” on certain “radical elements” in Pro-Palestine rallies.

James Cleverly replaced Braverman as the Home Secretary.

In another surprising development, former Prime Minister David Cameron was also appointed as the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

Cameron resigned as the PM in 2016 after Britain voted to leave the European Union, in a referendum that was called by him.

“The Prime Minister has asked me to serve as his Foreign Secretary and I have gladly accepted,” Cameron posted on X (formerly Twitter) after his appointment.

Notably, this is only the second time after World War II that a former Prime Minister has returned to the cabinet.

In other appointments, Laura Trott was appointed Chief Secretary of Treasury Secretary, Victoria Atkins was appointed Secretary of Health and Social Care, and Steve Barclay was made Secretary of State, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Additionally, Esther McVey and Richard Holden were made Ministers without portfolios. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Braverman Accuses Sunak of ‘Betrayal’ in Fiery Letter

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Sunak’s cabinet gets new Indian-origin minister

Like Sunak, UK-born Coutinho grew up in a family connected with the National Health Service (NHS) and was in the field of investment banking before joining politics…reports Asian Lite News

Claire Coutinho, a close aide of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, got a big promotion as his new Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary in a mini reshuffle on Thursday.

Coutinho, 38, becomes the second Goan-origin minister after Home Secretary Suella Braverman in the Sunak Cabinet and has a tough brief ahead of her as energy costs have been soaring in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

She has committed herself to work on safeguarding energy security and reducing bills for families struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.

In her first Cabinet role, Coutinho replaced Grant Shapps after he was promoted to the post of Defence Secretary following the resignation of Ben Wallace.

“I am delighted to have been appointed Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. I will work with the Prime Minister to safeguard our energy security, reduce bills for families, and build cleaner, cheaper, homegrown energy,” she tweeted.

Like Sunak, UK-born Coutinho grew up in a family connected with the National Health Service (NHS) and was in the field of investment banking before joining politics.

The pro-Brexiter with a Master’s degree in Maths and Philosophy from Oxford University was elected member of Parliament for East Surrey, south-east England, in 2019 with a promise to serve people.

“I was elected the Member of Parliament for East Surrey in 2019. Growing up, I watched my parents work as GPs (general practitioners) in the NHS, listening to people’s problems and solving them as best they could. It is in that spirit that I hope to serve the people of East Surrey,” reads the London-born politician’s mission statement as a Tory MP.

Sunak’s decision to catapult her into the cabinet – as its youngest member in fact – marks her out instantly as a major figure in Conservative politics, present and future, the BBC reported.

She says she started her career at Merrill Lynch, before leaving the City of London firm for a career in social justice policy.

“I focused on a wide range of issues from education to financial inclusion, to the regeneration of deprived communities including at the Centre for Social Justice. I then spent two years within government as a Special Adviser, including at HM Treasury. My local priorities include fixing our roads, supporting the local economy, and protecting our environment,” she adds in her mission statement.

Having worked as special adviser in the UK Treasury department, Coutinho went on to become an aide to Sunak in his role as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and later Chancellor of the Exchequer.

She backed the British Indian candidate for Prime Minister in his leadership bid last year and was later rewarded with a junior ministerial post in the Department for Education.

“Big thank you to my stellar team who supported me as Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing. I know my successor, David Johnston, will be champing at the bit to improve the lives of children and families up and down the country,” she tweeted after her promotion.

“From the largest expansion of childcare in history, to our new Freedom of Speech Act, to driving forward reforms in SEND, for foster carers, in children’s social care and for childminders. It has been a privilege to work with so many talented people,” she said.

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Cabinet gives nod to Indian Space Policy 2023

After the cabinet approval, Lt. General AK Bhatt (retd.), Director General, the Indian Space Association said that this is a historic moment…reports Asian Lite News

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved Indian Space Policy 2023, which will aim to enhance the role of the Department of Space, boost activities of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) missions and give a larger participation of research, academia, startups and industry.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to open the space sector for private participation. Today because of this within 3 years, the number of startups has reached about 150 in ISRO…,” said Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh at a press briefing on Thursday.

“Today Cabinet has approved Indian Space Policy 2023 which in brief would offer clarity to the role of each of these other components which have been set up to enhance the role of the space department, to give a boost to the activities of ISRO missions. To have larger participation between the research academia, startups and industry,” the Minister added.

‘Historic moment’

After the cabinet approval, Lt. General AK Bhatt (retd.), Director General, the Indian Space Association said that this is a historic moment.

Speaking on the behalf of Indian Space Association, General Bhatt said, “This is a historic moment as the cabinet today approved the Indian Space Policy 2023. It will pave the way forward with much-required clarity in space reforms and augment private industry participation to drive the space economy opportunity for the country.” “We have been waiting for it for quite some time and today’s announcement has come as a pleasant surprise. We keenly await and look forward to going through the policy details,” added Bhatt.

He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “We would like to thank PM Modi for his visionary leadership with a special focus on long-due reforms in the Indian space sector.”

Union Cabinet on Thursday approved Indian Space Policy 2023, which will aim to enhance the role of the Department of Space, boost activities of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) missions and give a larger participation of research, academia, startups and industry. (ANI)

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No place for white men in Truss’ cabinet?

Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss see's an Aston Martin DBX that will be exported to the United Stated, in Southampton. Picture by Pippa Fowles / No 10 Downing Street.

There is expected to be a clear out of Rishi Sunak and his supporters after a bitter blue-on-blue campaign in which he seems almost certain to be defeated…reports Asian Lite News

Liz Truss is expected to become UK Prime Minister on Tuesday and appoint a Cabinet featuring no white men in the great offices of state for the first time, the media reported.

Truss is expected to make long-term ally Kwasi Kwarteng chancellor, with Suella Braverman moving to the Home Office and James Cleverly to the Foreign Office, the Daily Mail reported.

If selected, Kwarteng would be the fourth non-white chancellor in a row, directly following Sajid Javid, Rishi Sunak and Nadhim Zahawi. And Braverman would become the third minority home secretary, after Priti Patel and Javid.

Cleverly, currently the Education Secretary, would become the first ever non-white foreign Secretary, the Daily Mail reported.

There is expected to be a clear out of Rishi Sunak and his supporters after a bitter blue-on-blue campaign in which he seems almost certain to be defeated.

Into the political wilderness too will go Michael Gove, after serving under the three previous PMs.

Dominic Raab, the First Secretary of State, and Boris Johnson himself, are expected to return to the backbenches. Both have question marks over whether they can hold on to their seats at the next election.

There is also expected to be a clear out of political advisers within No 10. The Times suggests only a handful of long-serving advisers will be kept on as Truss seeks to slim down the operation.

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