HRD Minister targets Sonia
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday criticised the Narendra Modi-led government, saying that the promises it made during last year’s Lok Sabha elections were “nothing more than empty talk”. Gandhi, whose term as Congress President was extended by one year, also praised party vice president Rahul Gandhi’s campaign against the Centre’s land ordinance. Later, Union Minister Smriti Irani rejected Sonia Gandhi’s claims, saying that most of the promises made by Modi had been fulfilled by his government. Irani accused Gandhi of trying to “hide the failures of her policies”.
BSF, Pakistan Rangers to hold talks
The Directors-General of India’s Border Force and the Pakistan Rangers will hold talks on several border security issues from Wednesday. BSF officials on Tuesday said that the Indian side had provided the Rangers with an 11-point agenda for the four-day talks. The officials said that the agenda included ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces as well as narcotics-smuggling operations along the border. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Sarataj Aziz accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of wanting to dictate the terms of the dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi. Aziz said that no dialogue with India would be successful unless the Kashmir issue was part of the agenda.
Saudi airstrikes kill 20 Indians in Yemen
Reports have said that at least 20 Indian nationals were killed by Saudi Arabia-led airstrikes on fuel smugglers near the port of Hodeidah in Yemen on Tuesday. Quoting local residents and fishermen, the reports said that the Saudi-led warplanes struck at least two boats in the al-Khokha area near the port. However, the Union Ministry of External Affairs said that it had no information about the Indians allegedly killed in the attack. “We are ascertaining the facts about the reports,” External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters. The Indian Embassy in Yemen was shut down in April after all Indian nationals were evacuated from the country.
Patel announces plans for national agitation
Patidar community leader Hardik Patel on Tuesday announced plans for a national agitation to press for reservations for the community under the Other Backward Class category. The leader also announced the launch of a new outfit, the Patel Navnirman Sena, which he said would work towards bringing Patels and other similar communities such as the Gujjars under one umbrella so that they could collectively press for reservations. Hardik claimed that over 7.8 lakh people had joined the PNS, adding that the outfit would hold rallies across 16 states over the next year.
Women get quota in paramilitary forces
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday announced a 33% reservation for women in all paramilitary forces, including the Central Industrial Security Force. Noting that women currently accounted for only 5.04% of the strength of paramilitary forces, Singh said that there was a need to increase the number of women personnel by up to one-third of the overall strength of all the forces.
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Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday criticised the Narendra Modi-led government, saying that the promises it made during last year’s Lok Sabha elections were “nothing more than empty talk”. Gandhi, whose term as Congress President was extended by one year, also praised party vice president Rahul Gandhi’s campaign against the Centre’s land ordinance. Later, Union Minister Smriti Irani rejected Sonia Gandhi’s claims, saying that most of the promises made by Modi had been fulfilled by his government. Irani accused Gandhi of trying to “hide the failures of her policies”.
BSF, Pakistan Rangers to hold talks
The Directors-General of India’s Border Force and the Pakistan Rangers will hold talks on several border security issues from Wednesday. BSF officials on Tuesday said that the Indian side had provided the Rangers with an 11-point agenda for the four-day talks. The officials said that the agenda included ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces as well as narcotics-smuggling operations along the border. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Sarataj Aziz accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of wanting to dictate the terms of the dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi. Aziz said that no dialogue with India would be successful unless the Kashmir issue was part of the agenda.
Saudi airstrikes kill 20 Indians in Yemen
Reports have said that at least 20 Indian nationals were killed by Saudi Arabia-led airstrikes on fuel smugglers near the port of Hodeidah in Yemen on Tuesday. Quoting local residents and fishermen, the reports said that the Saudi-led warplanes struck at least two boats in the al-Khokha area near the port. However, the Union Ministry of External Affairs said that it had no information about the Indians allegedly killed in the attack. “We are ascertaining the facts about the reports,” External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters. The Indian Embassy in Yemen was shut down in April after all Indian nationals were evacuated from the country.
Patel announces plans for national agitation
Patidar community leader Hardik Patel on Tuesday announced plans for a national agitation to press for reservations for the community under the Other Backward Class category. The leader also announced the launch of a new outfit, the Patel Navnirman Sena, which he said would work towards bringing Patels and other similar communities such as the Gujjars under one umbrella so that they could collectively press for reservations. Hardik claimed that over 7.8 lakh people had joined the PNS, adding that the outfit would hold rallies across 16 states over the next year.
Women get quota in paramilitary forces
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday announced a 33% reservation for women in all paramilitary forces, including the Central Industrial Security Force. Noting that women currently accounted for only 5.04% of the strength of paramilitary forces, Singh said that there was a need to increase the number of women personnel by up to one-third of the overall strength of all the forces.
