Wave the yellow card on BJP leaders calling Trump names. It's sub-juvenile behaviour
Sikh religious politics is undergoing a fresh churn. It's dangerous for Punjab and India
The latest split underlines the existential crisis for Shiromani Akali Dal, India's oldest regional party. This fresh churn in Sikh religious politics was already stirred by radicals like Amritpal. Punjab's voters will ultimately decide which Akali Dal is real, but instability in Sikh politics is dangerous for Punjab and India.
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Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Modi likely to be in US next month for UNGA meet, bilateral talks with Trump
Preparations are underway to schedule a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in the last week of September, The Indian Express has learnt. The ostensible reason is to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, but a key objective will be to meet US President Donald Trump, iron out the issues on trade and arrive at a common ground on tariffs. This will also give an opportunity for the two leaders to announce a trade deal. However, for this to fructify, a lot of moving parts have to fall in place. There has to be movement on two fronts — the Russia-Ukraine war and the Indo-US trade deal. Negotiations are underway on both fronts, and the stakes for Delhi are high since it has been slapped with 50 per cent tariffs by the US — 25 per cent for its high tariffs and 25 per cent penalty for buying Russian oil. On the Russia-Ukraine war front, Delhi is closely following the meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 to discuss a resolution to the war in Ukraine. Modi has already spoken to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the last few days. A resolution to the conflict is in India's interest, sources said, and this has been conveyed to both leaders. On the trade deal front, Indian and American negotiators had been close to sealing a deal, but the US President was not happy about the deal that was agreed between the interlocutors. So, the negotiators have to discuss the terms of the deal further, and they have to offer new terms, as red lines have been drawn. But the two sides are focused on the new goal for bilateral trade — 'Mission 500' — aiming to more than double total bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. This was decided during Modi's visit to the White House where he met Trump in February this year. They had also agreed that to realise this ambition, they would require new, fair-trade terms, and they had announced plans to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall this year. And to conclude a wide-ranging BTA, the US and India had agreed to take an integrated approach to strengthen and deepen bilateral trade across the goods and services sector, and work towards increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and deepening supply chain integration. But that has run into rough weather. And the officials and negotiators have to unlock the issues and negotiate a deal by September last week – the Prime Minister's visit to the US is expected to 'dot the i's and cross the t's', sources said. Now, to schedule the visit, as a first step, the Indian side has reached out to the UN headquarters for a speaking slot for the Prime Minister at the UN General Assembly. As of now, that has been scheduled for September 26 morning. Trump is slated to speak on September 23. At the UNGA, permanent missions to the UN have to indicate the level of representation from each country, and the speaking slot of 15-minutes is granted accordingly. If the PM's visit takes place, it will give an opportunity to speak at the UNGA and hold bilateral meetings with Trump and other world leaders. Zelenskyy also indicated Monday, after his phone call with Modi, that they 'agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the UN General Assembly'. Sources said plans are underway since the entire process of accreditation and travel arrangements to the UN needs to be completed in August. Ties between India and the US have been impacted in recent months after Trump claimed to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan — a claim denied by Delhi. He followed it with diatribes against India on tariffs, and imposed 50 per cent tariffs. Sources said that since the two countries are strategic partners, they have to sort out the issues, and the PM's visit will be to smoothen the issues, so that a visit by the US President to India can take place in October for the summit of Quad leaders.
Hindustan Times
16 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Cong to decide on Raj's role in MVA if he & Uddhav reunite: Ramesh Chennithala
PUNE: The Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will take a call on Raj Thackeray's role in the alliance if he and his cousin Uddhav Thackeray formally reunite; the party's Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala said on Tuesday. Chennithala accused the ECI of ignoring the information provided by the Opposition about suspected malpractices in various constituencies. The remark came at the end of the Congress's two-day, state-level workshop, attended by Chennithala and state unit president Harshwardhan Sapkal. Asked about speculation following Uddhav and Raj seen sharing a stage recently, Chennithala told media persons, 'We have no objection if both brothers come together — that is their family matter. But as far as the MVA is concerned, once they reunite, we will hold discussions within the party and make a decision.' Also Read | Congress condemns Israeli envoy's reply to Priyanka on Gaza post, accuses Modi of 'moral cowardice' Chennithala attacked Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, questioning why the CM was speaking on behalf of the Election Commission of India (ECI) after Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about its functioning. 'Rahul Gandhi asked the ECI questions yet the Maharashtra CM replied on the ECI's behalf. Why?' Chennithala wondered aloud. Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day workshop of the Congress in Pune, Chennithala alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ECI were working in collusion to undermine the democratic process during elections in the country. 'Vote chori' was first raised in Maharashtra. After the results of the assembly polls were declared, we raised doubts over the electoral process. It was obvious that the votes had been stolen. The BJP and the ECI had jointly snatched away our victory. This happened in Haryana as well, and the same will happen in Bihar,' Chennithala said. Also Read | Cong cites Jagdeep Dhankhar's move before he quit, takes a jibe over judge removal notice in Lok Sabha He accused the ECI of ignoring the information provided by the Opposition about suspected malpractices in various constituencies. In the LS elections held in May 2024, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was humbled by the MVA, with the Opposition bloc cornering 30 out of the 48 seats; Chennithala said. 'The MVA won the maximum number of seats in Maharashtra in the 2024 LS elections but 'vote chori' turned the mandate in favour of the Mahayuti in the assembly polls, held five months later,' he alleged. Also Read | 'Vote theft': BJP's lone Kerala seat in focus, Congress flags discrepancies in Thrissur voter list Furthermore, Chennithala said, 'The ECI cannot intimidate the leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, by sending him notices after he exposed the vote theft in Maharashtra and Bihar.' Gandhi is leading the protests against 'vote chori' to save democracy without any political motive. The Congress will intensify protests across the country by reaching out to the masses and conducting signature campaigns, Chennithala said. While the ECI has not clarified the 'vote chori' concerns, the BJP is defending the poll watchdog, Chennithala claimed. He alleged that the tariffs slapped on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump reflected the failure of India's foreign policy. 'The trade tariff has started hurting businesses. The country now remembers Indira Gandhi's valiant leadership during the India-Pakistan war in 1971. In contrast, our incumbent Prime Minister is scared to speak out against threats by the US,' Chennithala said. He claimed that the Mahayuti dispensation is running the 'most corrupt' government in the history of Maharashtra. 'They did not keep their promise on the farm loan waiver. The flagship Ladki Bahin scheme failed as many women were excluded from its ambit,' Chennithala said. He pointed at the allegations against minister of state for home, Yogesh Kadam, in connection with a dance bar in Mumbai and the controversy over cabinet minister Manikrao Kokate playing a game of rummy on his mobile phone during a legislative session. Chennithala accused the BJP of deliberately delaying the long-pending elections to the local bodies in the state. Whereas Sapkal, addressing the party workers, said that the Congress has remained strong despite some leaders quitting. 'Those who left should not be spared any thought. We have a strong base. With local self-government elections coming up, the party must stand united to win in the municipal corporations and Zilla Parishads,' he said. The two-day workshop, held at a private resort near Khadakwasla dam, saw participation from all state-level leaders and office-bearers of the Congress. (with agency inputs)
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
If voter list is faulty, dissolve LS. Let's have fresh polls: Abhishek
1 2 Kolkata: TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday stepped up the ante against the SIR saying, "Let the Lok Sabha be dissolved. Let there be a nationwide SIR and hold fresh elections." He argued that if faulty voter lists require rectification, then 240 BJP MPs elected on the basis of those lists should step down first. Banerjee also stated that if a single genuine voter is struck off the Bengal voter rolls, one lakh people would gherao the EC. Speaking to reporters before leaving for Delhi, Banerjee said, "We had a few basic questions: Why in 2025 can we not have access to a digitised voter list? Why is the SIR being conducted forcefully, especially in opposition-governed states? Even if I grant the EC's claim that there are irregularities in the voter list, this is the same list used in the 2024 LS elections, based on which the current PM and govt were elected. If there are irregularities now, the entire Union ministry must resign." "Even if I assume the EC is correct, then the first step must be to initiate criminal proceedings against the then chief election commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, and file an FIR. Because under his vigilance and supervision, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were conducted, over 240 BJP MPs were elected, on the same irregular rolls. The PM, the President and all Union ministers must resign," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo "Let BJP start, we will all resign. Let Lok Sabha be dissolved. Conduct SIR nationwide. Then hold fresh polls," he said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in Kolkata He also questioned why only BJP is publicly defending the EC on SIR, and not others. "And why should the BJP defend the EC? The EC is supposed to be a neutral body. If it is truly neutral, it should sit down with MPs," he said. "Mamata Banerjee was the first to flag this issue on Feb 27 at Netaji Indoor. The same person, with the same EPIC number, is included in the voter lists of Gujarat, UP and Bengal. Congress party's media conference showed conclusively that the same person voted in Varanasi and Karnataka on the same day," he added Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
