Prime Minister urges UN to reconsider its position
Permanent membership for India on the United Nations Security Council was “our right”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. In a speech addressed to the Indian diaspora in Paris, Modi urged the UN to reconsider its position on the issue, claiming that India had contributed immensely to global peace. “The world should understand this and change its outlook towards India,” he said. Modi is on a tour of France, Germany and Canada.
Rafale jets to be inducted in 2 years, says Parrikar
The 36 Rafale fighter jets India ordered on Friday will be inducted into the Indian Air Force within two years, said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday. The ready-to-fly jets were purchased after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Friday. “The Indian Air Force will get minimum oxygen it requires with this deal,” said Parrikar. “In fact we have not purchased any major new generation aircraft in 17 years.” The deal is estimated to be worth four billion euros to Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the jets.
Indian reportedly killed in Yemen
An Indian citizen was reportedly killed in a bomb blast in Aden in Yemen on Friday. Manjit Singh was working on a merchant vessel. Defence officials said that an Indian Navy stealth frigate was carrying Singh's body from Yemen to Djibouti. Meanwhile, India completed the evacuation of 4,640 nationals on Thursday. Nine hundred and sixty citizens of 41 other countries were also evacuated from Yemen.
Greenpeace India to challenge home ministry’s order to freeze accounts
Greenpeace India will challenge the Union Home Ministry’s order to freeze all its seven bank accounts in the country, the non-governmental organisation said on Saturday. "It is the government using strong-arm tactics to clamp down on dissenting voices in civil society,” the statement read. "We will not only challenge the Ministry of Home Affairs in courts, but also continue to campaign fearlessly on the issues we work on.” The ministry on Thursday had suspended the organisation’s registration and frozen its accounts for alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
Padma awards given only to dishonest people, says Sharad Yadav
Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav on Friday said that the Padma awards were only given to dishonest people from the upper classes of society. No Dalit, Adivasi or farmer had been included in the list of awardees this year, said Yadav as proof of his accusations. “Socialists should spurn Padmashri and Padmabhushan,” he said while giving a speech at an event in Mumbai. However, he claimed on Saturday that his comments had been taken out of context. “The media has not shown my complete statement,” said Yadav. “I was answering a question that was asked at the event.”
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Permanent membership for India on the United Nations Security Council was “our right”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. In a speech addressed to the Indian diaspora in Paris, Modi urged the UN to reconsider its position on the issue, claiming that India had contributed immensely to global peace. “The world should understand this and change its outlook towards India,” he said. Modi is on a tour of France, Germany and Canada.
Rafale jets to be inducted in 2 years, says Parrikar
The 36 Rafale fighter jets India ordered on Friday will be inducted into the Indian Air Force within two years, said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday. The ready-to-fly jets were purchased after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Friday. “The Indian Air Force will get minimum oxygen it requires with this deal,” said Parrikar. “In fact we have not purchased any major new generation aircraft in 17 years.” The deal is estimated to be worth four billion euros to Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the jets.
Indian reportedly killed in Yemen
An Indian citizen was reportedly killed in a bomb blast in Aden in Yemen on Friday. Manjit Singh was working on a merchant vessel. Defence officials said that an Indian Navy stealth frigate was carrying Singh's body from Yemen to Djibouti. Meanwhile, India completed the evacuation of 4,640 nationals on Thursday. Nine hundred and sixty citizens of 41 other countries were also evacuated from Yemen.
Greenpeace India to challenge home ministry’s order to freeze accounts
Greenpeace India will challenge the Union Home Ministry’s order to freeze all its seven bank accounts in the country, the non-governmental organisation said on Saturday. "It is the government using strong-arm tactics to clamp down on dissenting voices in civil society,” the statement read. "We will not only challenge the Ministry of Home Affairs in courts, but also continue to campaign fearlessly on the issues we work on.” The ministry on Thursday had suspended the organisation’s registration and frozen its accounts for alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
Padma awards given only to dishonest people, says Sharad Yadav
Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav on Friday said that the Padma awards were only given to dishonest people from the upper classes of society. No Dalit, Adivasi or farmer had been included in the list of awardees this year, said Yadav as proof of his accusations. “Socialists should spurn Padmashri and Padmabhushan,” he said while giving a speech at an event in Mumbai. However, he claimed on Saturday that his comments had been taken out of context. “The media has not shown my complete statement,” said Yadav. “I was answering a question that was asked at the event.”