[17 -28]/02/2022 - TOP 3 NEWS OF INDIA

 

17/02/2022

India says before the UN Security Council that 'quiet, constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour' in the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

In the midst of an escalating crisis between Russia and Ukraine, India appealed to all parties on Thursday to refrain from adopting any actions that could escalate tensions, suggesting that the situation can only be handled via diplomatic conversation. "Quiet and constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour," India's permanent representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti, said at a UN Security Council meeting (UNSC). He further stated that New Delhi has been in contact with all parties involved and is working to ensure long-term peace and stability in the crisis-torn region and beyond.

'Unwarranted,' India says of Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong's remark about 'criminal Lok Sabha MPs,' and summons his envoy.

India on Thursday expressed strong opposition to a discussion about Indian democracy in the Singapore Parliament earlier this week, during which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong cited Jawaharlal Nehru and emphasised the issue of criminal proceedings pending against "half of the MPs in Lok Sabha."

Punjab Chief Minister Channi Clarifies His Remark About 'UP, Bihar Bhaiyas'

On Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi released a new clarification, saying that his remarks had been misconstrued and that they were directed at outsiders in the state such as Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh. "Some of my statements were skewed. I'll say it again: Durgesh Pathak, Sanjay Singh, and Arvind Kejriwal are outsiders who cause problems. "I've discussed them," Channi added.

18/02/2022

India calls Singapore's Prime Minister's comments uncalled for.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, on Thursday, in response to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's speech in parliament, in which he criticised the decline of "Nehru's India" to the present, where Indian Members of Parliament face "criminal charges." Officials accompanying Mr. Wong "raised" the statements, according to government sources, who termed Mr. Lee's remarks "uncalled for" and "inappropriate."

In the Supreme Court, Tamil Nadu says no to the neutrino observatory proposal.

Tamil Nadu has told the Supreme Court that it does not want the Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO) to be built in a delicate ecological zone in the Western Ghats, at the expense of wildlife and biodiversity, and despite local opposition and public outcry. The proposal, according to the government, would create "enormous" permanent damage to the Western Ghats, which are already overburdened.

At the UN Security Council, India once again supports the'security interests of all countries.'

India advocated for a diplomatic solution to the tensions during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) called by Russia to discuss the Ukraine situation on the seventh anniversary of the Minsk II ceasefire accord. "India has maintained contact with all parties involved." T.S. Tirumurti, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, informed the Security Council, "It is our considered belief that the matter can only be resolved via diplomatic engagement." External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have exchanged candid discussions on Russia and Ukraine, according to US ambassador Donald Lu. Given its strong ties with both the United States and Russia, India is attempting to strike a balance. President Joe Biden of the United States suggested on Thursday that Russia could invade Ukraine "within the next couple days."

19/02/2022

India and the United Arab Emirates have signed a comprehensive trade agreement.

On Friday, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a "comprehensive" bilateral trade agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed investment from the Gulf country into Jammu and Kashmir when he announced the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the largest trade pact in the last seven years. He said the initiative would open new routes for regional trade and connectivity and advance the "collective interests" of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal stated that the CEPA would include strong anti-dumping provisions.

After anti-CAA rallies, the Supreme Court directs the U.P. to return the penalty and assets seized.

The Uttar Pradesh government was directed by the Supreme Court on Friday to refund damages to those guilty of "destroying public property" during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). According to the government's own oral declaration in court, the assets recovered by the state are worth "several crores." The blow came just days after the State informed a Bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant that it had withdrawn show-cause notices issued by Additional District Magistrates in 274 cases of "alleged destruction of public properties" and subsequent proceedings, days after being accused by the apex court of being the "complainant, adjudicator, and prosecutor."

Three flights will be operated by Air India to Ukraine.

Air India said on Friday that three flights will be operated between India and Ukraine next week. It tweeted that these flights will take place on February 22, 24, and 26. Boryspil International Airport would be served by the flights. The airline said it was "in the process of raising the number [of flights]" in response to demands for more flights on the microblogging site.

20/02/2022

Punjab will be the scene of a high-stakes multi-front struggle.

Following weeks of heated campaigning, all 117 Assembly seats in Punjab will be voted on in a single round on Sunday, as will 59 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the third of seven phases of election.

PM welcomes a group of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs back to Afghanistan.

A group of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the eve of voting in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. At the discussion, concerns about pending citizenship for people who migrated many years ago, as well as the lack of permits for those attempting to exit Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, were raised.

Tamil Nadu's local government elections went off without a hitch.

Except for a few cases of disagreements, protests, and scuffles, polling to the urban local bodies in Tamil Nadu, which was held on Saturday after a ten-year hiatus, was mainly quiet across the State.

21/02/2022

Punjab had a 65.32 percent turnout, while Uttar Pradesh had a 60.46 percent turnout in phase three.

According to the Election Commission, voting in the Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (Phase III) Assembly elections on Sunday was relatively calm, with 65.32 percent turnout in Punjab and 60.46 percent in Uttar Pradesh.

PM Modi has promised to address the problem of stray cattle in Uttar Pradesh.

In response to the stray cow crisis, which threatens to derail the BJP's narrative among farmers this election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told voters in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday that a new policy would be implemented after the March 10 election result.

In Mumbai, KCR meets Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, who met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Sunday to intensify efforts to form a broad coalition of Opposition parties to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 Parliamentary election, called for "a big change" in the way the country was currently being run by the BJP-led Centre.

22/02/2021

Fundamental duties must be upheld, according to a Supreme Court petition.

On Monday, the Supreme Court urged the Centre and States to respond to a petition seeking to protect individuals' fundamental rights, including as patriotism and national unity, by "extensive, well-defined laws."

On February 23, the Supreme Court published a bouquet of petitions on Pegasus.

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday on a slew of petitions that led to the formation of a technical committee in October last year, chaired by former apex court judge R.V. Raveendran, to investigate allegations that the government used Israeli military-grade software to spy on citizens.

In PM Modi's forthcoming campaign stop in Varanasi, the BJP is hoping for a repeat of 2017.

The BJP sees Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned three-day visit to his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi between March 2 and 5, which coincides with the sixth and seventh phases of Uttar Pradesh elections, as a trip that could make a critical difference to the party's fortunes in the 111 seats up for grabs in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

23/02/2022

Uttar Pradesh Phase IV polls on February 23

60 Assembly constituencies spread across nine districts will vote in the fourth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls on Wednesday, with all eyes on Lakhimpur Kheri, which is said to be a Bharatiya Janata Party stronghold.

Biden announces sanctions against Russian oligarchs and financial institutions.

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden imposed harsh financial sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs, intensifying the West's conflict with Moscow, even as Russian parliament gave President Vladimir Putin the authority to deploy military force outside the nation.

The Home Ministry's panel for removing the AFSPA from Nagaland missed the '45-day' deadline.

The Union Home Ministry formed a committee in December to explore the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA from Nagaland. The group was supposed to give a report within 45 days, as claimed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

24/02/2022

According to Maharashtra's MVA administration, Nawab Malik's resignation is not on the table.

Following the arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case of Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik, the leadership of the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government categorically ruled out Mr. Malik's resignation until his guilt was proven.

India's 'independent' stance on Ukraine is welcomed by Russia.

Russia's acting Ambassador said the fresh sanctions imposed on Russia will not impede delivery of the S-400 missile system and other defence equipment India has acquired, praising India's "independent" stance at the Security Council on its operations in eastern Ukraine.

The Indian Navy's largest multinational exercise, Milan, will feature warships from QUAD and other countries.

Warships from the Quad countries, France, Myanmar, South Korea, and Vietnam, among others, will gather in Visakhapatnam later this week for the largest multinational exercise Milan, hosted by the Indian Navy, amid growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The exercise is being carried out without ships by Russia, Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, among others.

25/02/2022

Modi meets with Putin and requests a swift cease-fire and dialogue.

In a chat with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to talks, according to the Prime Minister's Office. According to the PMO, Mr. Putin "briefed" Mr. Modi on Russia's plan to bomb multiple areas in Ukraine, and India's "top priority" was the safe withdrawal of Indian residents from the crisis zone.

Joe Biden says he is "consulting with India" on Russia.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden stated that his administration was in touch with India and was working to resolve concerns related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Foreign Ministers from the EU and the United Kingdom meet with Jaishankar.

On Thursday morning, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar returned from a trip to Europe to learn of Russia's attacks on Ukraine and the diplomatic ramifications.

26/02/2022

Live updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis | India votes no on a UNSC resolution condemning Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine.

On a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Ukraine, India and China abstained from voting. The resolution was vetoed by Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council and this month's president. The result was 1 (Y)-3 (A)-1 in favour of the resolution (N).

Air India has begun evacuating people from Ukraine's border neighbours.

Air India will begin evacuation flights to Ukraine's border countries on Saturday, despite the government's request that other airlines join the "operation" to return Indians who have attempted to flee the war-torn country.

The budget contains a roadmap for creating a thriving domestic defence ecosystem: PM

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the significance of customisation and originality in defence systems in order to maintain a surprise advantage over adversaries. "Only when defence equipment is built in our country can we have uniqueness and surprise components." "This year's Budget has a strategy for establishing a vibrant ecosystem within the country, from research, design, and development through manufacturing," he said.

27/02/2022

The second Air India aircraft from Ukraine, carrying 250 Indian evacuees, arrives in Delhi.

Air India's second evacuation aircraft from Bucharest, Romania, carrying 250 Indian people stranded in Ukraine, arrived in Delhi early on February 27, according to government officials. Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Minister of Civil Aviation, greeted the evacuees at the airport by presenting them roses.

In the important fifth phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections, 692 contestants are running across 12 districts.

On Sunday, voters in 61 constituencies across 12 districts in Awadh and Purvanchal will cast ballots in the important fifth phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The phase will test the temperature of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Hindutva wave, as it will vote in its three laboratories — Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Chitrakoot — with 692 candidates in the field.

PM says medical education should be expanded.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the private sector "to get into this field in huge quantities" and sought the intervention of state governments to make good policies in giving land for this type of work, in order to provide more opportunities for Indian students in the field of medical education.

28/02/2022

Crisis in Russia and Ukraine | India abstains from voting in the United Nations Security Council to debate Ukraine at the General Assembly.

On February 27, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) agreed to call an emergency special session of the General Assembly to debate a resolution on the situation in Ukraine that was vetoed by Russia on Friday. The resolution denounced Russia's aggression and demanded that Moscow leave Ukraine immediately. The General Assembly will debate the topic on February 28 at 10 a.m. New York time, according to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

On Ukraine, India is working with all parties: Foreign Minister

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Sunday that India has "every reason" to help resolve the Ukrainian issue. Mr. Shringla told a special briefing on the crisis and its humanitarian implications that India feels that dialogue between the warring parties is the only way forward.

For Indians, the Poland border is a major stumbling block.

Thousands of others stuck in various regions of the war-torn country continued to appeal to the Indian government to rescue them as the first batches of Indians evacuated from Ukraine returned home.