The vibe, too, has changed because of the jaunty music of the 1980s and 90s that the DJ plays with cheerful abandon, making a generation that grew up listening to Boney M and BeeGees feel very nostalgic, and chuckle at the senseless lyrics of ‘Ra Ra Rasputin’…reports Asian Lite News
After it arose from a late lamented cinema that used to screen the newest Hollywood releases at a time when they would land in the country after much of the world had seen them, The Chanakya in Delhi’s Diplomatic Enclave has transformed into an upscale mall headlined by a parade of luxury brands.
In this gentrified location, flanked, ironically, by a popular destination for momos of all kinds, MKT has become one of the city’s busiest restaurants, even as its neighbour, Foodhall, the go-to place for people looking for artisanal food ingredients and products, shut down and made way for another popular gourmet food store, Le Marche.
MKT is back in the news because its new head chef, Rinki Saha, an alumna of the Wendell College, Chicago, and formerly with Bastian, Mumbai, has tweaked the restaurant’s already food-forward menu for the better. And the menu change is the first in six years.
The vibe, too, has changed because of the jaunty music of the 1980s and 90s that the DJ plays with cheerful abandon, making a generation that grew up listening to Boney M and BeeGees feel very nostalgic, and chuckle at the senseless lyrics of ‘Ra Ra Rasputin’.
What MKT’s new menu does is that it builds upon its strengths rather than just tinker around with the original favourites. The maki rolls are still there for sushi lovers, and so are the dim sum, including the long bao (or soup dumplings), but what has been added are dumplings encased in taro dough, my favourites being the ones stuffed with prawns marinated in chilli bean sauce. And the portable robata grills on which the yakitori (chicken and leeks) arrives adds a touch of drama and a whiff of charcoal smoke to your dinner.
The small plates on offer offer quite an international variety, from labneh, baked burrata and asparagus tartare to salmon carpaccio dipped in a pool of the sweet, sour and tangy Nahm Jim dressing, jicama (also known as the Mexican turnip), Japanese seasoned rice pearls known as bubu arare, cucumber, red jalapeno, herb oil and cilantro.
The Indian small plates are ambitious in their scope, from the memorable guchchi galouti kebabs sandwiched between savoury biscuits, served with mascarpone sauce, to the lip-smackingly good Black Pepper Masala Crab, cheese gratinated in shell — it’s also a soul-satisfying alternative way of having crab if you find handling them a bit too messy.
After you have negotiated the small plates — you could either order only them, or stick to the main course items, for the menu offers you incredible variety — you have an array of options to dig. These include my favourites — Quattro Formaggio Tortellini, the four cheeses being ricotta, Parmesan, goat cheese and hazelnut mascarpone, drizzled with dill lemon brown butter, and Prawn Gigli quilted in saffron garlic cream.
Then come the burgers, pizzas and all-time favourites — mine being the evergreen Chicken A La King — followed by the mains, from eggplant parmigiana (the vegetarians don’t have many options) to the pricey but incredibly tasty Grilled Australian Mulwarra Lamb Chops and Miso-Glazed Sea Bass.
The stir-fries and curries sections offers a decent selection of hardy perennials, Kung Pao Chicken to Singaporean Chilli Prawns with Mantou Buns, but the Indian mains are likely to disappoint you because of their boring predictability, from Narangi Kofta to Champaran Gosht. The small plates are definitely more exciting.
If the mains leave you asking for more, the desserts certainly won’t, especially if you order a Loaded Chocolate Treat, which packs in flavourless brownies, whipped chocolate ganache and chocolate ice-cream drizzled with raspberry coulis. It is not something you can have by yourself, so share it with those for whom you care, and spread the joy!
In his letter to the Congress National President, Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely said that all unanimous decisions taken by the Senior Delhi Congress leaders have been unilaterally vetoed by the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge)…reports Asian Lite News
Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely has resigned from his post, party officials on Sunday said. “The Delhi Congress Unit was against an alliance with a party which was formed on the sole basis of leveling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress Party. Despite that, the Party made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi…,” Arvinder Singh Lovely wrote in his resignation letter.
Lovely was appointed to the post in August 2023.
In his letter to the Congress National President, Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely said that all unanimous decisions taken by the Senior Delhi Congress leaders have been unilaterally vetoed by the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge).
“Since my appointment as DPCC President, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed me to make any senior appointments in the DPCC. My request for the appointment of a veteran leader as Media head of DPCC was blatantly rejected. To date, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed the DPCC to appoint all Block presidents in the city. Resultantly more than 150 blocks in Delhi do not presently have a Block President,” he said.
Further, he said that despite Aam Aadmi Party accusing the Congress over corruption, the party allied (INDIA bloc) with them.
“The Delhi Congress Unit was against an alliance with a Party which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress Party and in turn, whose half of the cabinet ministers are presently in jail on corruption charges. Despite that, the Party decided to ally with the AAP in Delhi,” Lovely said in his letter to Kharge.
“We respected the Party’s final decision. Not only did I publicly back the decision, I also ensured that the full State Unit fell in line with the High Command’s final order. On instructions from AICC General Secretary (Organisation), I even went to the extent of visiting Kejriwal’s residence on the night of his Arrest along with Subash Chopra and Sandeep Dikshit, despite the same being against my position on the matter,” he added.
The former DPCC President also pointed out that pursuant to the alliance, the Delhi Congress was allotted three Parliamentary Seats to fight in the present General Elections.
He also highlighted the comments made by the North-East Delhi candidate (Kanhaiya Kumar), for falsely praising the Delhi CM and endorsing the works done by AAP in the Education, Health, Road and Electricity sector.
“Such ill-thought and factually incorrect statements have not gone down well with the Local Party Unit since, the local party workers had an inherent understanding that the alliance was not done in appreciation of AAP’s false propaganda of the development of Delhi and was in fact, a “compromise- to improve the chances of victory for the Party as part of the National Alliance,” he said.
Lovely, said that since he cannot protect the interests of the Party Workers, he sees no reason to continue in the said post.(ANI)
Cong workers protest near Kanhaiya Kumar’s office
A group of Congress workers on Sunday held a protest near the office of party’s Northeast Delhi’s candidate for Lok Sabha polls Kanhaiya Kumar, demanding a local person to be nominated from the seat. The protest was held near the Maujpur metro station. Navdeep Sharma, one of the protesters, said they want a local candidate from the seat.
“We want our own candidate or leader to fight otherwise, we should have a meeting so that we can express our feelings with the high command. We need a local candidate from among us; we don’t want an outsider. Our dissatisfaction is not with anyone; we don’t have any problem with anyone,” Sharma said.
He added if there is an outsider candidate, their local politics will be neglected.
Another protester said that they had raised objections earlier, but their voices were allegedly not heard, so now they have taken to the streets as they don’t like Kanhaiya Kumar.
“People from outside don’t know anything, they don’t even know our streets. Why are they being given tickets? We’re not against anyone, we just want someone from here, someone who knows our streets and understands our issues,” the protester said.
Candidates like Arvinder Singh Lovely, Sandeep Dikshit etc should be given the ticket because they understand the local problems, he said.
“We are not against the Congress. We want someone who is dedicated to our community, not just a celebrity among us. That’s our only demand,” the protester stated.
When asked about the protest, a senior party leader denied any anger among the workers claiming that Kumar is getting a lot of love from the local people and it will also be converted into votes.
The protests come after the resignation of Congress’ Delhi unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely in protest against the alliance with AAP brought the party’s factional feud into the open, with a section of leaders on Sunday demanding the removal of AICC in-charge Deepak Babaria.
In his resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely said the Delhi Congress unit was against the alliance with AAP and that all unanimous decisions taken by the senior Delhi unit leaders have been “unilaterally vetoed” by Babaria.
He also criticised Congress candidates – Kanhaiya Kumar from Northeast Delhi and Udit Raj from Northwest Delhi – for their statements and said that tickets were given to two people who are total strangers to the Delhi Congress and party policies.
When asked about the development, Kumar said, “I don’t know. I don’t have any information. Let me gather information from the party and then I will tell you.”
The AAP hit back at the Lieutenant Governor over this latest setback and accused the BJP of trying to finish the party led by Kejriwal…reports Asian Lite News
In a fresh setback for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, his private secretary has been sacked over alleged violation of rules during his appointment.
Bibhav Kumar’s services have been terminated with immediate effect, said the Directorate of Vigilance in its order, stating that he was appointed in violation of the Central Civil Service Rules, related to temporary appointments.
The AAP hit back at the Lieutenant Governor over this latest setback and accused the BJP of trying to finish the party led by Kejriwal.
Kumar faced a police case in 2007 in Noida for allegedly assaulting a public servant, the vigilance department pointed out in its order, adding that this information was not revealed during his appointment as the private secretary.
“This is not only irregular but also creates administrative difficulties. Due to sensitivity of work handled by the ministers, it is not appropriate to allow appointments in the personal staff of ministers without prior verification of character and antecedents,” the order said.
The department said the charges against Kumar are grave in nature and the trial is at the stage of evidence, due to which “Bibhav Kumar is not clear from vigilance angle”.
The AAP slammed the sacking of Kumar with party leader Jasmine Shah alleging that democracy is being dismantled in the national capital.
“First the Delhi CM is arrested in the fake Delhi liquor case. Now, the LG has started sacking his entire staff including his Pvt Secretary. There is no doubt left that BJP’s sole aim is to finish AAP. Democracy is being dismantled in the national capital,” said Shah. Kumar was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate earlier this week in the liquor policy case, in which Kejriwal is in jail. He also met the Chief Minister at Tihar on Tuesday.
New Delhi, Mar 22 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Rouse Avenue Court after his Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand hearing in an alleged Delhi excise policy case, in New Delhi on Friday. He has been sent to ED custody till March 28 by the court. (ANI Photo)
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday sent CM Kejriwal to ED custody in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Friday remanded to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate for seven days i.e., till March 28, a day after he was arrested by the probe agency in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case linked to a money laundering case.
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday sent CM Kejriwal to ED custody in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.
Special CBI judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court passed the order after Kejriwal was produced on Friday following his arrest on Thursday night by the central probe agency.
Senior Advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Vikram Chaudhari, and Ramesh Gupta along with Advocates Rajat Bharadwaj, Mudit Jain and Mohd Irshad appeared for the Delhi CM Kejriwal.
ASG SV Raju and Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain appeared for the probe agency.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi excise policy case 2022, which was later scrapped.
“ED was asking for a 10-day remand. They said that to trace the money trail, a custodial investigation is necessary. Considering all aspects, the judge gave a 6-day custodial remand. He will be presented here again on 28 March. ED argued that the money used for the Goa elections was ill-gotten. They said they have statements of some witnesses which prove this fact.” Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer Madan Lal told reporters.
After the court’s decision, Atishi said that the party would explore all possible legal routes for further actions.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Rouse Avenue Court after his Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand hearing in an alleged Delhi excise policy case, in New Delhi on Friday. He has been sent to ED custody till March 28 by the court. (ANI Photo)
“We, very respectfully and humbly disagree with the decision of the court. ED has no proof even after 2 years of investigation… ED forced their witnesses to give statements against Arvind Kejriwal… We will explore all possible legal routes… One by one opposition parties are being targeted in front of the judiciary… Arvind Kejriwal will always be the CM of Delhi. There is no Constitutional bar on him not being the CM. He has not been convicted till now,” she said.
Terming the day as a “dark” one, Atishi further said that the ‘democracy in the country has been murdered today’.
“BJP wants to contest elections from behind the ED… Is ED a part of the BJP that the party is issuing their press release? To date, no proceeds of crime have been found by the ED against the AAP leaders… Today is a dark day in the history of democracy of the country. People of the country are seeing this murder of democracy which has been done today,” she added.
The arrest by the central agency has drawn severe criticism for the BJP-led centre from the opposition leaders.
Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot, while questioning the action by the federal agency said, “We met the family of Arvind Kejriwal after much delay… We have been saying from the very beginning that this case is false and the only motive is to stop Arvind Kejriwal. What recovery has been made by the ED till now?… It is the party’s stand that the CM should not resign. The government will be run from wherever the CM is. We have no problem with this and no law says he should resign…”
AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the ‘countdown of the Central government has begun on 21 March’ with the arrest of Delhi CM.
“… It is Arvind Kejriwal today, it can be someone else tomorrow. This government will spare no one… The world is supporting Arvind Kejriwal. And when things like this happen at a global scale, revolutions happen and governments are overturned. The countdown of the Central government has begun on 21 March… BJP supporters are also coming to us and saying, all was fine till now, but this has become a little too much,” he said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav voiced criticism of the arrest of Kejriwal, alleging that government institutions like ED, CBI, and income tax work as instruments for the government.
“These are government institutions, they’ll do what the government wants. This raises the question of whether in a democracy, institutions operate as instruments and are working as instruments to please the BJP. They are creating false cases to make records globally. They are not only making records globally but also creating records of false cases. The BJP is setting records in creating false cases worldwide,” said Akhilesh Yadav.
An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporter being detained during a protest against the arrest of CM Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged Delhi excise policy case, in Bhubaneswar on Friday. (ANI Photo)
Terming Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest “unethical and wrong,” Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Friday that he had never seen such an action against an elected Chief Minister.
“I have never seen such an action on an elected CM. When the Model Code of Conduct is implemented in the country, going to arrest a CM at night, has been opposed by all. This is very unethical and wrong. The Election Commission should intervene in this matter,” Pilot said.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief and former Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekhar Rao, whose daughter K Kavitha is also in ED custody in the same case called Kejriwal’s arrest a “dark day” in Indian democracy.
“The arrest of Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is a dark day in the history of democracy of the country,” said a press statement by KCR.
Raising slogans “Arvind tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare sath hain” and “tyranny won’t last”, hundreds of AAP leaders and workers on Friday hit the streets to protest against the BJP over Kejriwal’s arrest, with AAP ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj and others being detained earlier in the day.
Several protestors were bundled into buses as they gathered at the ITO intersection around 10.30 am to proceed towards the BJP office on the DDU Marg.
Paramilitary personnel in anti-riot gear were also deployed to maintain law and order.
As Delhi cabinet ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj and others tried to proceed towards the BJP headquarters around 11 am, they were taken away in police buses.
Later, 21 workers including the ministers were released.
AAP leaders alleged that they were stopped by the police from meeting family members of the Delhi CM.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi alleged that the party leaders who marched towards the residence of Delhi CM Kejriwal in the Civil Lines area were stopped and not allowed to meet Kejriwal’s family.
“We have come to meet Arvind Kejriwal’s family but police and administration are not allowing us to go inside. Democracy can’t be murdered like this and we can’t be stopped from raising our voices. The people of Delhi are with Arvind Kejriwal,” Oberoi told ANI.
Later, selected AAP MLAs, Chief Whip Dilip K. Pandey, Mayor Shelly Oberoi, Cabinet Ministers Imran Hussain and Raaj Kumar Anand, were allowed to enter the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
The AAP will gherao the prime minister’s residence on March 26 to register its protest against Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED, the party’s leader Gopal Rai said on Friday.
Speaking to ANI, Rai said that the party will not celebrate Holi this year.
“People across the country have taken to the streets against this arrest… Tomorrow our ministers, councilors, officials, INDIA bloc leaders all will reach Shaheedi Park at 10 o’clock tomorrow to protest against this dictatorship…This year the Holi programme won’t take place. On 25 March we will go to people and tell them what is happening in the country… On 26 March whole of Delhi will gherao PM’s residence to mark a protest against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest,” the Delhi Minister said.
Meanwhile, jibing at the AAP leader, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari said, “If no one has come today, then who is going to come after 2-4 days?… The people of Delhi are not even discussing them. No one is going to ask them.”
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, “I would like Gopal Rai to roam the streets of Delhi on March 25 and see with how much enthusiasm and joy the people of Delhi will celebrate Holi because on Holi, evil is destroyed and good wins. Yes, this time this work has been done in Delhi, evil has been destroyed.”
INDIA bloc leaders on Friday met the Election Commission against Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest and the alleged targeting of Opposition leaders across the country ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
The letter submitted to the poll body by INDIA on Friday asserted that “arrests, of individuals holding Constitutional posts are clearly intended to have a stifling and deleterious effect on the democratic functioning of the affairs of their respective states, as well as the parties themselves”.
The letter further read, “It is a move that is deliberately designed to demotivate and demoralise the members of these parties and the opposition at large. These arrested individuals, one of whom is the National Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, and the other is the Working President of Jharkhand, Mukti Morcha, are elected leaders of our country who have championed the cause of those on the margins of our society, including our brothers and sisters belonging to the tribal communities.”
While Kejriwal was not named in the FIRs registered by the ED or the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Delhi excise policy case, his name first found a mention in the ED’s chargesheet wherein the agency claimed that he allegedly spoke to one of the main accused, Sameer Mahendru, in a video call and asked him to continue working with co-accused and AAP communications-in-charge Vijay Nair.
Nair was among the first people to be arrested by CBI in the case, in 2022. Subsequently, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh were arrested in connection with the case. (ANI)
The AAP and the Congress have arrived at a 4:3 seat-sharing arrangement for Delhi…reports Asian Lite News
The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold joint campaigns in Delhi for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and meetings to chalk out a plan for the same will follow soon, Sandeep Pathak, Rajya Sabha MP of the party ruling the national capital, said.
Pathak, who is also AAP’s national general secretary (organisation), said the seat-sharing arrangement for the polls was mutually decided by the parties after which AAP’s political affairs committee (PAC) came to a conclusion. “We will definitely have (joint) campaigns. We will hold meetings and a plan will be made,” Pathak said.
“We have discussed with them (Congress) at length about the candidates and then the PAC came to a decision,” he added.
The AAP and the Congress have arrived at a 4:3 seat-sharing arrangement for Delhi.
The AAP has fielded MLA Somnath Bharti, who is also the Delhi Jal Board vice-chairman, from the New Delhi constituency; Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar from East Delhi; Sahiram Pehelwan from South Delhi and former MP Mahabal Mishra from the West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency.
The Congress is yet to announce its candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi.
The AAP-Congress alliance will begin its election campaigning in Delhi and Haryana in the next one week and the announcement for Punjab will be made in the next few days, Pathak said.
Asked how the seats were decided, Pathak said “We just wanted the alliance for the betterment of the country. The whole country and all sectors are vitiated. So our party wanted to give an atmosphere where there is freedom.” On the selection of candidates, Pathak said.
“The candidates were selected on the criteria of their winnability. When it comes to INDIA alliance seat-sharing, our INDIA was clear we don’t want to be stuck up here and there for a seat or two.” This alliance was a must for India. And so there was no obstacle at any point of time, he said.
“Due credit to Congress as well, as they were also very cordial. Once the seats were decided, then the candidates were selected on the criteria of their public perception and winnability,” Pathak said.
The parties will have different strategies and pace for starting the poll campaigns in different states. “In Bharuch and Bhavnagar, the campaigns have already started. In the next one week, you will see campaigns starting in Delhi at a large level, as well as in Haryana,” he said.
“For Punjab, we will announce in the next few days,” he added. Speaking about the strengths of AAP and areas where it needs to improve, Pathak said once elected to power in the central government, the party will be able to better serve the people without interference from the ruling party.
He said the party aims to add “intellectual, young and honest” people in the team to raise important issues which are public-centric.
On the topic of Ram mandir, Pathak said by providing good education, hospitals and honest government, the state government has been able to implement the idea of Ram Rajya in the true sense. “For us, Ram is not a matter of votes. Those who are doing politics over this, the people will only decide and answer.”
The 120 contestants, representing nations from across the world, convened at Hotel Ashoka…reports Asian Lite News
The excitement is palpable in Delhi as 120 Miss World participants from around the globe have arrived in the heart of India, ready to embark on their journey to compete for the prestigious title.
The 120 contestants, representing nations from across the world, convened at Hotel Ashoka.
Over the ensuing weeks, the participants will partake in a myriad of events, challenges, and philanthropic endeavors, where they will not only showcase their beauty and grace but also their intellect, compassion, and commitment to social causes.
The participants, along with Julia Morley, the Chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, paid heartfelt homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat, whose principles of truth, non-violence, and social justice continue to inspire generations worldwide and resonate with the Miss World Organization’s theme of Beauty with a Purpose.
The countdown to the 71st Miss World Grand Finale has begun, with the event set to take place on March 9 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.
Farmers are protesting over their demands which include “MSP guarantee law” and debt waiver…reports Asian Lite News
Massive security arrangements that were put in place on the borders of the national capital to stop protest by farmers on Tuesday turned into a nightmare for commuters in Delhi. To ensure law and order, Delhi enforced Section 144, restricting entry of tractor trolleys and large assemblies.
Visuals from Delhi’s Gazipur border, Shambhu border and Tikri border showed barricades and barbed wires erected on the roads blocking entry. Similar arrangements are observed at the Singhu border with rows of barricades lining the road.
Multi-layered barricades were placed at borders to restrict the protesting farmers from entering the national capital. Meanwhile, Mohammed Sarfaraz, SP, Patiala city reviewed the security arrangement at Delhi’s Shambhu border.
As per the police, a force of more than 2000 personnel, including CAPF, Crime Branch staff and battalions, are keeping a vigil to maintain law and order and address any untoward incidents.
Ankit Singh, DCP of the North East District on Monday said, “Section 144 is in place. Bringing in tractor trolleys and assemblies is restricted. The Delhi Police and the CAPF are here. We have prepared to seal the border. We will ensure that no one breaks this border. If there is any untoward incident we will seal it completely.”
Meanwhile, the meeting between the farmer union leaders and the government ended in a stalemate with no common ground in sight.
On the meeting, Union Minister Arjun Munda said he remains hopeful of a breakthrough, adding that the Centre wants to arrive at a resolution through dialogue.
Speaking to the reporters here after holding a fresh round of talks with the protesting farmer leaders, the Union Minister informed that while a breakthrough wasn’t achieved, a broad consensus was reached on most of the issues of contention.
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal and Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda were among the team holding talks with farmer leaders. Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal was also present. Farmers are protesting over their demands which include “MSP guarantee law” and debt waiver.
‘Tried our best to find a solution’
Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher on Tuesday said that all efforts were made in the meeting to find a solution to avoid a confrontation with the government adding that they anticipated a positive result.
“We want to present our views before the whole of India that we tried our best in yesterday’s meeting to take some kind of decision so that we can avoid confrontation with the government and we get something that we had hoped for. We can only hope and trust. After doing this, we sat in the meeting for 5 hours,” Pandher said while addressing media in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib.
He alleged that the police are harassing the people in the villages of Haryana and Punjab while expressing concern over the situation in these states.
“We presented the position of Haryana before them that you have turned Haryana into the valley of Kashmir, you are sending police to every village in Haryana. You have sent water cannons to every village of Haryana. Farmers and relatives of every village of Haryana are being harassed,” he said.
“It is being said that your son is doing MBBS, they will not let him do it, the kind of degree your son should get. If your brother is working at home, we will fire him from his job and cancel your passport. Then other types of harassment are also more and more, whatever kind we say, it is more and more. See it seems that Punjab and Haryana are not two states from India but an international border, by what we are seeing now,” Pandher asserted.
The farmer leader rubbished the claims of Congress party’s support to the farmers and labourers adding that the latter is as guilty as the ruling BJP in the plight of the farmers.
“We are the farmers and labourers of the country, whatever is being said in the media, no Congress supports us, we consider Congress as guilty as BJP is guilty. These policies have been brought by Congress, We are not left, CPI, and CPM who ruled Bengal, made 20 mistakes, what kind of revolution came from there in West Bengal, we are not on anyone’s side, we are farmers and labourers,” Pandher said.
“Those who are going to raise their voice are their men, and then we will appeal to our people, whether they are singers of Punjab or the country or intellectuals, NRI brothers, whether it is another civil society that also includes journalists,” he said.
“This is not just our issue, or question, that is definitely in this big movement, it is not just us, this is the demand of 140 crore countrymen,” Pandher added.
The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they’re marching to Delhi. The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher.
According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them better crop prices after which they ended the 2021 protest.
Today’s protest was led by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and saw participation of Ministers, legislators, and parliamentarians from the State…reports Asian Lite News
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Rajya Sabha MP T Siva on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi government at the Centre of suppressing States ruled by opposition parties.
He made the remarks while participating in the Kerala ruling alliance, Left Democratic Front (LDF)’s protest in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against the central government’s alleged discrimination towards Kerala.
“I have participated on behalf of the DMK party, party president and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin to show solidarity for the protest,” Siva told ANI.
“The BJP-led union government is behaving with an authoritarian approach and suppressing the states ruled by opposition parties. The union government is assuming more and more powers. The governors in opposition party ruling states behave in excess. Even the unanimously passed legislation from assemblies isn’t getting the assent of governors,” he alleged.
Today’s protest was led by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and saw participation of Ministers, legislators, and parliamentarians from the State.
The legislators were seen raising slogans against the central government and holding banner that read “Fight to protect Federalism”.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also joined the protest at Jantar Mantar.
DMK Minister P Thiaga Rajan represented his party in the protest after Tamil Nadu Chief minister Stalin endorsed the protests led by his Kerala counterpart.
Addressing the protestors at Jantar Mantar, CM Vijayan asserted that the fight will strive to maintain balance in Centre-State relations.
“Today, we are at a historical juncture of the Indian republic. A democracy that was envisaged as a ‘Union of States’ is slowly and steadily being crippled into an undemocratic ‘Union over States’. We are seeing its manifestations around the country, especially in opposition-ruled states,” Vijayan said.
“We have all come together to register our strong protest against this and to preserve the federal structure of India. Today we are marking the beginning of a renewed fight that would herald a dawn of ensuring equitable treatment of the States. This fight would also strive to maintain a balance in the Centre-State relations. Thus, February 8, 2024, is going to be a red letter day in the history of the Republic of India,” he added.
He also thanked the state governments and opposition political parties whose representatives have joined the LDF-led protest today.
“At the outset, let me extend a warm welcome and convey greetings to all those who have gathered here representing various State Governments and opposition political parties. The fight to ensure that India remains a sovereign secular democratic republic, with federalism as its hallmark, will be a long-drawn one. Let this be an opportunity for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to this struggle,” the Kerala Chief Minister said.
Speaking on the protest, LDF convenor EP Jayarajan said that they are raising people’s demands through the mega agitation.
“We are raising the people’s demands. Yesterday it was Karnataka, today it is Kerala, tomorrow other states will also come,” Jayarajan said.
Kerala Minister Kadannappalli Ramachandran said, “Due to the central government’s activities, they are not in favour of keeping up the constitution. We wanted to get some help as far as the constitution is concerned, but they refused.” (ANI)
During the meeting, the officials of the ministries of agriculture of both countries emphasised increasing cooperation in the field….reports Asian Lite News
The first joint working group meeting on agriculture took place between Iran and India on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the officials of the ministries of agriculture of both countries emphasised increasing cooperation in the field.
“In this meeting, officials of the ministries of agriculture of two countries emphasised increasing cooperation in the field of balancing the import and export of agricultural products between the two countries,” Iran’s Embassy in New Delhi wrote in a post on X.
Notably, the joint working group meeting between Iran and India was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
It took place at NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi on February 6.
“Pramod Kumar Meherda, Additional Secretary, MoA&FW, GoI felicitated the Iranian Delegates at the conclusion of 1st INDO-IRAN Joint Agricultural Working Group Meeting at NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi on 6th Feb’24,” the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare wrote on X.
India-Iran relations span centuries marked by meaningful interactions. The two countries shared a border till 1947 and share several common features in their language, culture and traditions, as per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Both South Asia and the Persian Gulf have strong commercial, energy, cultural and people-to-people links, according to the MEA.
Recently, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian hosted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Tehran.
The two leaders discussed expanding bilateral and multilateral ties within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS.
In a post on X, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated, “Iran’s FM: “Today, I hosted Indian FM @DrSJaishankar, we held talks over the latest regional and int’l developments, especially the Zionist regime’s #genocide& crimes against Palestinians. We discussed the expanding bilateral & multilateral ties within the #Shanghai Org. & #BRICS.”
The Iranian Foreign Minister said he and Jaishankar discussed the latest international and regional developments, including the Israel-Hamas war. During the meeting, Hossein Amir Abdollahian highlighted the importance of providing security in international waterways near Iran. (ANI)
New Delhi, Sept 7 (ANI): The G20 logos illuminate as the main gate of the Jama Masjid is decorated by the Bazar Matia Mahal Shopkeeper Association on the eve of the start of the G20 Summit, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo)
In addition to the inaugural and valedictory sessions, the 23rd WSD Summit will feature 11 plenary sessions and high-level discussions on women’s leadership, businesses, and youth, it added…reports Asian Lite News
Thought leaders, policymakers, and experts in the Global South will come together to discuss environmental sustainability and social equity during the 23rd World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) to be held here from February 7-9. Organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), this independent international summit aims to address global challenges such as conflict, planetary crises, and setbacks in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Expected to be inaugurated by the Vice President of India, the summit will host prominent speakers, including ministers from Fiji, Kiribati, and Spain, as well as representatives from the World Bank and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, TERI said in a statement. Under the theme ‘Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice’, the summit will emphasise the crucial role of visionary leadership in steering the world toward sustainability, the statement said.
In addition to the inaugural and valedictory sessions, the 23rd WSD Summit will feature 11 plenary sessions and high-level discussions on women’s leadership, businesses, and youth, it added.
