Tag: DELHI

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India News

Delhi Reiterates Close Ties With OIC, GCC states

The Government of India accords the highest respect to all religions. The offensive tweets and comments denigrating a religious personality were made by certain individuals. They do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India. Strong action has already been taken against these individuals by relevant bodies

India on Monday slammed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for making comments on the internal affairs of the country, terming them ‘unwarranted and narrow-minded’.

The Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a statement said, “We have seen the statement on India from the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Government of India categorically rejects OIC Secretariat’s unwarranted and narrow-minded comments.”

“The Government of India accords the highest respect to all religions. The offensive tweets and comments denigrating a religious personality were made by certain individuals. They do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India. Strong action has already been taken against these individuals by relevant bodies,” the statement added.

It said that it is regrettable that the OIC Secretariat has yet again chosen to make “motivated, misleading and mischievous comments”. This only exposes its divisive agenda being pursued at the behest of vested interests, it said.

“We would urge the OIC Secretariat to stop pursuing its communal approach and show due respect to all faiths and religions,” said the statement.

The OIC, a 57-member nation has crticised India and said, “These abuses come in the context of the escalation of hatred and abuse of Islam in India and in the context of the systematic practices against Muslims and restrictions on them, especially in light of a series of decisions banning headscarves in educational institutions in a number of Indian states and demolitions of Muslim property, in addition to the increase in violence against them.”

Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressed strong condemnation and denunciation of the statements made by the spokesperson of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, insulting Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), reaffirming GCC’s permanent rejection of prejudice against the symbols of the Islamic religion and refusal to prejudice all religious figures and symbols.

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on Monday condemned offensive remarks made by a spokesperson for India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), Petra News Agency reported.

Ministry’s Spokesperson Ambassador Haitham Abu Alfoul stressed Jordan’s denunciation of such statements and firm rejection of violations against Islamic and other religious figures, considering it as an act that feeds extremism and hatred.

He said BJP’s decision to suspend its spokesperson is a step in the right direction.

The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday summoned the Indian Charge d’ Affaires and conveyed the Islamabad government’s “categorical rejection and strong condemnation” of the derogatory remarks made by two former spokespersons of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Indian envoy was told that these remarks were totally unacceptable and had not only deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan but of Muslims across the world, Dunya News quoted the Ministry as saying.

He was further told that Pakistan “deplores the belated and perfunctory disciplinary actions taken by the BJP government against the said officials, which cannot assuage the pain caused to the Muslims”.

“Pakistan is deeply concerned at the alarming rise in communal violence and hatred against the Muslims in India. Muslims are being systematically stigmatized, marginalised and subjected to a well-orchestrated onslaught from radical Hindu mobs with full connivance and support of the security apparatus across various states in India,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Arif Alvi, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and former premier Imran Khan have all condemned the remarks made by the former BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.

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On Sunday, the BJP suspended Sharma and Jindal for their comments on Prophet Muhammad and said that party’s view is to respect all religions.

Pakistan has joined Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Iran to condemn the remarks.

  India’s ambassadors to Kuwait and Qatar were summoned on Sunday to receive official notes of protest over the comments.

  Doha has also demanded the Indian government issue a public apology.

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India News

Arora, Kant, Patel front-runners for Delhi LG

Delhi has been seeing retired bureaucrats as Lt Governors. Prior to Baijal, Najeeb Jung was the Delhi LG but he was also not on good terms with the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government….reports Asian Lite News

With the exit of Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, the three top contenders for the post are understood to be former Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, and Lakshwadeep Administrator Praful Khoda Patel.

The government face on many public policy issues, Kant is a retired Kerala cadre IAS officer of the 1980 batch, while Sunil Arora, who was CEC from December 2018 to April 2021, is a retired Rajasthan cadre IAS officer of the 1980 batch, who has been Union Skill Development Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Secretary.

Patel, who is the administrator of Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, is said to be the top choice but sources also say that a BJP politician from south India could be appointed. However, the government has been springing surprises so nobody in the government and the party sources wants to guess it.

Patel, who has also served as the Minister of State for Home in the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat in 2010, has had a controversial tenure in Lakshadweep. He had allowed serving of liquor to tourists, eliciting protests from the locals.

In Delhi, coming civic elections were deferred after the unification of the three MCDs, and till then, the civic body will come under the Lt Governor, so a person who will ensure the current anti-encroachment drive does not lose steam could be appointed.

Delhi has been seeing retired bureaucrats as Lt Governors. Prior to Baijal, Najeeb Jung was the Delhi LG but he was also not on good terms with the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government.

Baijal resigned on Wednesday, citing personal reasons. He sent his resignation to President Ram Nath Kovind, who is currently on a foreign tour. However, it is likely to be accepted soon.

A 1969 batch IAS officer from the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre, he served as the 21st Lt Governor of Delhi for a period of five years and four months from December 31, 2016 to May 18, 2022. As the Lt-Governor, he had been at loggerheads with Chief Minister Kejriwal over several issues. Baijal had also served as Union Home Secretary during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

ALSO READ: India slams OIC’s ‘unwarranted comments’ on delimitation exercise in Kashmir

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Sports

Marsh shines as Delhi beats Punjab

This marks Delhi winning two matches in a row for the first time in the tournament and doing the double on Punjab. With their tally in the points table on 14 points, Delhi have also managed to displace Royal Challengers Bangalore from fourth place on net run rate…reports Asian Lite News

Mitchell Marsh scored a masterful 49-ball 63 while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav shared four wickets between themselves and Shardul Thakur picked his career-best IPL figures of 4/36 as Delhi Capitals defeated Punjab Kings by 17 runs at the D.Y Patil Stadium on Monday.

After Marsh carried Delhi to 159/7, despite two three-wicket hauls for Arshdeep Singh and Liam Livingstone, Thakur, Axar and Kuldeep triggered a collapse on a slow and low pitch which saw Punjab lose six wickets before reaching the half-way mark of the chase. Though Jitesh Sharma tried his best with a 34-ball 44, Punjab could make only 142/9 in their 20 overs.

This marks Delhi winning two matches in a row for the first time in the tournament and doing the double on Punjab. With their tally in the points table on 14 points, Delhi have also managed to displace Royal Challengers Bangalore from fourth place on net run rate.

In pursuit of 159, Punjab hit five fours and a six in the first four overs. But Anrich Nortje responded by bouncing out Jonny Bairstow. Thakur opened the floodgates for Delhi when he removed Bhanuka Rajapaksa and then Shikhar Dhawan on the last ball of the powerplay. While Rajapaksa’s cross-bat swipe went to backward point, Dhawan was cramped for room, giving a healthy edge behind to Pant.

Post-powerplay, Axar grabbed his 100th IPL wicket with a length ball around off-stump skidding into castle Mayank Agarwal through the gate. Livingstone danced down the pitch to dispatch Kuldeep over long-on. But he completely missed the googly and was easily stumped by Pant.

Kuldeep’s wrong-un beat Harpreet Brar’s inside edge on defence to bowl him through the gate while Rishi Dhawan missed his sweep on an arm-ball from Axar and the ball straightened after pitching to hit top of off-stump.

Jitesh, who earlier survived a run-out chance, waged a lone battle with the bat, swatting Nortje, Ahmed and Thakur for boundaries. Giving him good support was Rahul Chahar, who smacked Ahmed for a four and six. With 39 needed off 18 balls, Rovman Powell produced a moment of brilliance by leaping to his left and throwing the ball back to the field before losing his momentum backwards, saving five runs.

Four balls later, Thakur broke the 41-run stand as Sharma couldn’t get the needed elevation on knuckleball outside the off-stump and was caught by Warner running in from long-off. Though Kagiso Rabada muscled him for a pulled six over deep mid-wicket, Thakur had the last laugh as the South African holed out to long-off, making it easy for Delhi to close out a victory.

Earlier, David Warner taking strike at the last moment against Livingstone backfired spectacularly as he slashed hard at a length ball outside the off-stump, which bounced and held a little, taking a thick edge to backward point.

Marsh began from where he left off in his 89 against Rajasthan Royals, lofting down the ground and flicking over deep mid-wicket for taking consecutive sixes off Rabada. Sarfaraz Khan stepped up to play a sizzling cameo of 32 off 16 balls, taking the attack to Harpreet and Rishi for hitting five fours and a six, with the scoop being the standout.

But Arshdeep ended Sarfaraz’s entertaining stay with a slower ball which the batter completely mistimed to mid-on. The left-arm pacer could have got Lalit Yadav out for a first-ball duck if he had not overstepped at the crease.

From there, Marsh and Lalit shared a 47-run stand off 38 balls for the third wicket. Arshdeep finally made amends by taking out Lalit with a slower bouncer which he ramped straight to backward point. Livingston came back in the 12th over to deceive Pant with a wide delivery, which the left-hander responded by dancing down the pitch, only to be stumped.

The wide outside off-stump fetched another wicket for Livingstone when Rovman Powell tried to clear long-on but the thick outer edge went to long-off. With Livingstone ending his spell, Marsh began to bring out his counter-attacking self, raising his fifty with a slap through the covers off Brar, followed by another four between long-on and deep mid-wicket.

Marsh slammed three boundaries off Arshdeep in the 18th over – two through leg-side and one bouncing past long-off. But his knock ended when his attempted pick-up shot was pouched by deep mid-wicket running in. Punjab gave away just ten runs in the last two overs to get momentum in their favour at the innings break, which was inadequate to seal a win.

Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 159/7 (Mitchell Marsh 63, Sarfaraz Khan 32; Liam Livingstone 3/27, Arshdeep Singh 3/37) beat Punjab Kings 142/9 in 20 overs (Jitesh Sharma 44; Jonny Bairstow 28; Shardul Thakur 4/36, Axar Patel 2/14) by 17 runs

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India News Politics

Brinda blocks bulldozer, says it “bulldozing the constitution”

The anti-encroachment drive began in the violence-hit Jahangirpuri area at around 10.40 a.m. in the morning…reports Asian Lite News

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Wednesday termed the demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation in Jahangirpuri area of Delhi “bulldozing the constitution.”

“The law and the constitution have been bulldozed by these illegal demolitions,” Karat said as she visited the site where the JCB cranes were demolishing the illegal structures in Jahangirpuri.

Incidentally, the CPI (M) leader stepped in at a time when the JCB was about to demolish the illegal encroachment outside a temple. “The Supreme Court has given the order to maintain the status quo on the demolition drive, I have just come here to implement that order,” Karat told mediapersons.

The anti-encroachment drive began in the violence-hit Jahangirpuri area at around 10.40 a.m. in the morning. The first demolition was of a tobacconist’s shop and then the JCB proceeded further to demolish another juice-cum-tobbacco vendor next to it. A double storey scrap dealer’s shop was also razed to the ground.

The residents in the vicinity of the demolition drive could be seen watching from the rooftops and the windows of their houses. While speaking to IANS, several expressed their resentment over the government’s strict action which came just 4 days after the severe communal clashes.

“Demolition of India’s constitutional values”

The Congress on Wednesday accused the Centre of undermining constitutional authorities after it failed to immediately follow the Supreme Court’s order of a status quo on the demolition drive in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said its demolition of Constitutional values and shared picture of preamble which is threatened by a bulldozer.

“This is a demolition of India’s constitutional values. This is state-sponsored targeting of poor & minorities,” he said in a tweet.

Earlier Congress leaders had termed it “brazen contempt” and a very dangerous precedent of defiance by the civic agency and Delhi police.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave on Wednesday again mentioned the Jahangirpuri demolition matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, saying despite the top court’s order, the municipal corporation had not stopped the demolition drive.

Dave said the top court in the morning ordered status quo on the demolition, yet the municipal corporation did not stop the demolition drive at Jahangirpuri.

He urged the top court to ask the secretary general to communicate the court’s order to the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Mayor NDMC, and Commissioner of Delhi Police.

“Once it’s widely reported in the media, this is not appropriate…,” said Dave.

The Chief Justice then asked the registry to communicate the court’s status quo order on the demolition drive to the respondents in the matter — NDMC Commissioner, Mayor and Delhi Police Commissioner.

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Film Review Films

Capital city prepares for ‘Habitat Int’l Film Festival’

A special selection of Korean films including ‘In The Name of The Son’, ‘Chorokbam’, ‘Siere’ and ‘The Cave’ will be screened at the festival in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre, New Delhi…. reports Asian Lite News

Returning after a two-year pandemic hiatus, the Habitat International Film Festival is scheduled to be held from May 6 to 15 at India Habitat Centre in the Capital.

The festival showcases an impressive line-up of award-winning and festival favourite films which include Nathalie Alvarez Mesen’s ‘Clara Sola’, entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94 Academy Awards, Stefan Ruzowitsky’s ‘Hinterland’, which won the Prix du Public UBS award at the 74 Locarno Film Festival; ‘The Last Austrians’, winner at the Zurich Film Festival; ‘The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See The Titanic’, winner of numerous film awards, including at the Venice Film Festival, Italy and ‘The Metamorphosis of Birds’, a Portuguese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.

With diversity at the forefront, this edition also brings together a pan-Indian selection of films from a plethora of Indian languages such as Hindi, Sanskrit, Malayalam, Tamil, Bhojpuri, Assamese, Bengali, etc., Director G. Prabha’s ‘Taya’, Achal Mishra’s ‘Dhuin’, Ritesh Sharma’s ‘Jhini Bini Chadariya’, Ainu Baruah’s ‘Dimasa’, Madhuja Mukherjee’s ‘Deep 6’ are some of the rich offerings at the festival.

A special selection of Korean films including ‘In The Name of The Son’, ‘Chorokbam’, ‘Siere’ and ‘The Cave’ will be screened at the festival in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre, New Delhi.

Speaking about the Habitat Film Festival, Director of India Habitat Centre, Sunit Tandon said, “The India Habitat Centre has become synonymous with the best in the arts and culture over the years. It is a great relief and pleasure for the entire team to be able to present another edition of the Habitat International Film Festival after a two-year gap necessitated by the pandemic.”

Vidyun Singh, Creative Head, Programmes, India Habitat Centre said, “HIFF, though smaller compared to other film festivals, has carved out a special space and a loyal audience. It is a cherry-picked curation of critically acclaimed and award-winning cinema, made possible by the generous cooperation and collaboration of the Embassies and Cultural Centres for which we are deeply grateful.”

Film critic and journalist Anna M.M. Vetticad will be introducing the section of Malayalam films that paved the way for a New Wave of Malayalam cinema.

Short films and documentaries, Q&A and interactive sessions, and a Festival Cafe serving a selection of International Street Food provide the quintessential buzz and ‘Festival Flavour’.

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COVID-19 India News

Delhi sees around 500% rise in Covid spread in last 15 days

All participants are validated citizens who had to be registered with Local Circles to participate in this survey…reports Asian Lite News

At least 19 per cent of residents of Delhi-NCR say they have 1 or more individuals in their close social network who has had Covid in the last 15 days, claimed a survey on Sunday.

The Covid network prevalence has risen to 19 per cent marking an over 500 per cent increase in the last 15 days which also corresponds to the 650 per cent increase in Test Positivity Rate (TPR) during this period, the survey claimed.

The survey asked residents of Delhi, “How many individuals (including children) do you have in your close social network (family, friends, neighbours, colleagues) in Delhi-NCR that have had Covid in the last 15 days?” This question in the survey received 11,743 responses.

In response, the majority, 70 per cent of Delhi residents said “No one in the last 15 days”.

Breaking down the poll, 11 per cent said “1 or 2”, and 8 per cent said “3-5” while 11 per cent could not say. The findings indicate that 19 per cent of residents of Delhi-NCR say they have 1 or more individuals in their close social network who has had Covid in the last 15 days, according to the survey conducted by LocalCircles.

The similar question the firm asked on April 2 had found that only three per cent residents had someone in their close social network who were infected with Covid in the last 15 days.

The survey received inputs from 11,743 citizens located in all districts of Delhi and NCR where 67 per cent of the respondents were men and 33 per cent were women.

All participants are validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.

On April 2, Delhi recorded a test positivity rate of 0.7 per cent and 114 cases. This TPR in Delhi alone has jumped from 0.7 per cent on April 2nd to 5.33 per cent on April 16, marking a 650 per cent increase in TPR and indicating that Covid is back in Delhi and spreading rapidly, the survey said.

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Environment India News

Stubble smoke not the lone reason for Delhi-NCR pollution

New Delhi was ranked the world’s most polluted capital city for a second consecutive year followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and Muscat (Oman)…reports Asian Lite News

Despite being this winter being the wettest, the overall winter average of PM2.5 has stayed elevated and the overall contribution of the local and regional sources were higher than that from stubble smoke, an analysis of winter pollution for Delhi-NCR by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has said.

While there had been a minor drop in the seasonal level compared to previous winters, the level is still extremely high, and far from meeting the safety standards, the CSE researchers said, warning that if not acted upon immediately, this trend can worsen in the coming years negating the downward dip of the pandemic years.

The CSE carried out the analysis of real-time data from monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR for the entire winter period – starting from October 1, 2021 till February 28, 2022.

“Elevated pollution levels and smog episodes are evidence of the systemic pollution that has continued in the region due to inadequate infrastructure and systems for pollution control in all sectors. This can be tamed only if round the year action becomes more stringent and uniform across sectors and the region,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, CSE.

Avikal Somvanshi, Programme manager, Urban Lab Analytics, CSE, said: “Even though there is considerable variation in seasonal averages across the region, winter pollution episodes are alarmingly high and synchronised in the region despite large distances. Despite being the wettest winter, the overall winter average of PM2.5 has stayed elevated and the overall contribution of the local and regional sources are higher than that from stubble smoke.”

According to SAFAR, smoke from the stubble fire in northern states started contributing to Delhi’s PM2.5 level from October 10, 2021 and ended on November 30, 2021. During these 52 days, the percentage contribution varied between one per cent and 48 per cent, with the latter being reported on November 7, 2021. This winter’s stubble fire season was four days shorter than the ones in the previous two winters. The number of days when percentage contribution was over 40 per cent was the same this winter as last year: just two days.

But if looked at from absolute concentration terms, this year had twice the number of days when the PM2.5 load from stubble fire was high enough to plunge Delhi’s air quality into ‘very poor’ category on its own. Further, these high contribution load days happened in a cluster, which indicates that the biggest bulk burning instances took place in a span of fewer days this year than in the previous years. This might be due to the extended monsoon which reduced the rain-free period before the sowing of the wheat crop.

The city-wide winter average for Delhi stood at 172 micro-gram per cubic metre, which is identical to the seasonal average of the winter of 2019-20 but is nine per cent lower than the seasonal average of 2020-21 winter. The seasonal peak was about five per cent lower than both preceding winters.

Number of days with severe or worse air quality bounced back to pre-Covid levels: This winter, 25 days had the city-wide average in ‘severe’ or ‘worse’ AQI category — up from 23 such days in the previous winter and on par with 25 days in the winter of 2019-20.

The CSE used data as recorded by 81 air quality monitoring stations under the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) while the farm stubble fire data was sourced from System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). Weather data was sourced from the Safdarjang weather station of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Most polluted capital city in the world

New Delhi was ranked the world’s most polluted capital city for a second consecutive year followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and Muscat (Oman).

Of the 15 most polluted cities in Central and South Asia in 2021, 12 were in India. New Delhi saw a 14.6 per cent increase in PM2.5 concentration in 2021, 96.4 Ig/m3, up from 84 Ig/m3 in 2020.

The annual PM2.5 concentration averages in 48 per cent of India’s cities, exceeded 50 Ig/m3 or more than 10 times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines.

Crop burning is common in India, especially in the rice farms near Delhi during the winter months.

During crop burning season, smoke is responsible for up to 45 per cent of pollution in the city.

These startling facts came to light on Tuesday in the 2021 World Air Quality Report according to which only three per cent of cities and no single country has met the latest WHO PM2.5 annual air quality guidelines.

The report analyses PM2.5 air pollution measurements from air monitoring stations in 6,475 cities in 117 countries, regions and territories.

IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report is the first major global air quality report based on updated annual WHO air quality guidelines for PM2.5.

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-Top News India News

Diplomatic buzz in Delhi

US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh is in New Delhi at the same time as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, reports Arul Louis

As diplomatic efforts over India’s position on Ukraine heat up, US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh is in New Delhi at the same time as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are expected there on Thursday.

Singh, who is the architect of US economic sanctions on Moscow, “will consult closely with counterparts on the consequences of Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine and mitigating its impact on the global economy”, White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said on Wednesday.

India has stayed neutral on seven Ukraine-related resolutions at the United Nations – including one on which the US also abstained – although New Delhi has criticised Russia’s invasion obliquely by emphasising “the need to respect the UN Charter, international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states”.

Also in India is Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, the Foreign Minister of Mexico which sponsored along with France a resolution in the General Assembly on the Ukraine humanitarian situation.

India abstained on that resolution but it was passed by an overwhelming majority.

All sides to the Ukraine crisis are seeking India’s backing and this has led to senior diplomats converging on New Delhi.

Last week, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi went to India and on Wednesday German Foreign and Security Policy Advisor Jens Plotner was there.

Although China has extended an uneasy support to Russia, it has said at the UN that developing countries should not be pressured to pick sides.

Although Singh’s role is seen mainly as President Joe Biden’s sanctions chief, Bedingfield sought to soften the focus on that aspect indicating that his discussions in New Delhi will go beyond Ukraine.

Despite Biden calling India’s position on the Russian invasion “somewhat shaky” and several US politicians criticising New Delhi for not voting at the UN to condemn Moscow and for planning to buy oil from that country, Washington sees India’s pivotal role in the Indo-Pacific in its strategy of countering China’s aggressive posture.

The Indo-Pacific will figure in the discussions of Singh, said Bedingfield who was substituting at the daily briefing for White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki, who has tested positive for Covid-19 a second time despite being vaccinated.

He will hold consultations “to deepen cooperation to promote inclusive economic growth and prosperity and a free and open Indo Pacific and the development of an Indo Pacific economic framework,” she said.

His visit will “continue our ongoing consultations with the Government of India and advance a range of issues in the US India economic relationship and strategic partnerships” and discuss Biden’s priorities “including the promotion of high-quality infrastructure to build back better worlds”, she added.

On Wednesday, Singh met with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who tweeted that they “discussed at length steps for further deepening India-US economic & strategic ties. Our complementary partnership will help us build resilient economies in a dynamic world order”.

Psaki has said that India buying oil from Russia will not violate US sanctions on Russia.

Germany and several European allies of the US continue to buy energy from the US without recriminations.

However, India’s purchase of the Triumf S-400 missile defence system from Russia despite US discouragement puts it in the crosshairs of sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) law.

Reflecting the West’s dilemma over India’s position of being trapped by its dependence on Russian arms, Plotner told reporters, “We would have welcomed to have India in our camp. This having been said, everybody has his own geography, everybody has his own geopolitical setting in which it must evolve.”

India’s External Affairs Ministry announced the visits of Lavrov and Truss, but was silent on Singh’s trip.

ALSO READ-Lavrov to visit Delhi this week

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Lavrov to visit Delhi this week

Russian-FM-Sergei-Lavrov

With the war having completed a month, India on Thursday abstained on a resolution pushed by Russia in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, reports Asian Lite News

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to come to India this week, days after the visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

With the war having completed a month, India on Thursday abstained on a resolution pushed by Russia in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

The resolution, which was perceived to be critical of Ukraine, did not get the required nine votes and failed to pass.

By its abstention, New Delhi signalled that it was not aligned with Moscow’s position.

India had earlier abstained on Western-led resolutions that criticised the Russian military action in Ukraine. Thursday’s abstention reflected an attempt by New Delhi to seek a neutral position as it continues to engage and walk a diplomatic tightrope on the issue.

Hours later, India abstained again on a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution moved by the French and the Mexicans, which got 140 votes in favour, five against, and 38 abstentions. This resolution was “strong” in its condemnation of Russia.

US President Joe Biden had said last week that among the Quad countries, India was “somewhat shaky” in showing its opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Australia and Japan, who make up the Quad along with India and the US, have criticised Russia’s aggression.

Lavrov’s visit is expected to focus on strategic issues resulting from the war, as well as specific discussions on purchasing Russian oil, payment mechanisms, given sanctions against Russian banks and exclusion from the SWIFT, and possible disruptions in the supply of military hardware.

The Modi government indicated in Parliament last week that it is considering offers of discounted Russian oil and a special inter-ministerial group headed by the Finance Ministry is looking into the payments issues for Indian importers and exporters that arise from the war and Western sanctions.

India would also be looking for clarity and assurances from Russia on timely delivery of spares and components for systems in use and of the deals underway including S-400 and Ak-203 assault rifles among others, as well as streamlining the rupee-rouble payment system for any future purchases.

Ahead of Lavrov’s visit, newly appointed Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov called on three of the senior-most officials in the Ministry of External Affairs last week: Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma, Secretary (East) Saurabh Kumar, and Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi. In tweets, Mr. Alipov said he held exchanges on Russia-India cooperation at the United Nations, G-20, and other multilateral platforms.

US President Joe Biden during a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. (Photo-Twitter@POTUS)jpg

Lavrov’s visit will be seen as an outreach to India as the US and European allies increase pressure to “isolate” Russia, and increase defence exports to Ukraine and neighbouring countries, and call on other countries to support their efforts.

US President Joe Biden said last week that he was discussing the possibility of ousting Russia from the G-20 grouping, with the next summit to be held in Bali, Indonesia in November this year. When asked, officials said India, which would host the G20 summit in 2023, was unlikely to support such a move.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Mexican Foreign Minister Ebrard will be in Delhi mid-week as well, while Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz will arrive ahead of Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennet’s visit next Sunday. In addition, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are expected to travel to the U.S. to meet their counterparts Antony Blinken and Gen. Lloyd Austin later this month, where possible U.S. sanctions on the S400 purchase could come up.

Lavrov’s visit will follow days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi travelled to Delhi, and discussed the Ukraine issue, among others with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Jaishankar, where Jaishankar said the “common element” in thinking on the crisis was the need for an immediate ceasefire and return to dialogue and diplomacy. Lavrov is likely to travel to Beijing as well, for bilateral talks and a conference on Afghanistan.

India has consistently abstained from all resolutions at the United Nations criticising Russia thus far, and called for talks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken to Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky a number of times on the telephone between February 24 and March 7 while Indian students were being transported back from Ukraine, and diplomats have suggested he could help mediate a resolution.

ALSO READ-Lavrov accuses US of sabotaging Ukraine talks

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India News

MLAs get iPads as Delhi Assembly to go paperless

The Assembly has taken up an automation project that will enable the MLAs to work digitally — submit questions and notices and table Bills online….reports Asian Lite News

In an attempt to go paperless, all the members of the Delhi Legislative Assembly received iPads for receiving information and documents on legislative proceedings online.

Speaker Ram Niwas Goel urged the legislators to carry the iPads, provided by the Delhi government’s finance department, during the ongoing Budget session, according to a PTI report.

“We want to implement a completely paperless system for availing the documents and information online. The Assembly has also been provided with WiFi connectivity and the budget address of the Finance minister and other documents will be available on the iPads of the legislators,” he said.

The Assembly has taken up an automation project that will enable the MLAs to work digitally — submit questions and notices and table Bills online.

A request for proposal was issued by the Delhi Assembly Secretariat for selecting a successful bidder for the implementation of the automation project.

The project also includes the creation of a facility to make the MLAs attend the House proceedings virtually.

It aims at switching the functioning of the Assembly from manual to a web-based digital solution for speed and efficiency along with going paperless, it was reported.

AAP MLA resigns from Assembly

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Raghav Chadha on Thursday tendered his resignation from Delhi Legislative Assembly to Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

The AAP has nominated Chadha for Rajya Sabha from Punjab.

Chadha is an MLA from Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar Assembly constituency while also being party’s co-incharge for Punjab.

The AAP has also nominated former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU), Ashok Mittal, founder of Krishna Pran Breast Cancer Care Charitable Trust, and Sanjiv Arora to Rajya Sabha from Punjab.

Five current Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab are retiring on April 9. The last day for filing the nominations is Monday.

Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and SS Dullo, BJP’s Shwait Malik, SAD’s Naresh Gujral and SS Dhindsa from SAD-Sanyukt are the five Rajya Sabha MPs who are retiring from the Rajya Sabha.

In all, Punjab has seven seats in the Upper House.

The term of SAD’s Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Congress leader Ambika Soni, who are also Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab, will end on July 4. Elections to these two seats would be held later this year.

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