Manmohan Singh explains to Hillary Clinton India’s need to engage Iran for its energy security

May 8, 2012

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New DelhI/Kolkata, May 8: India wants Iran to fulfill international obligations with regard to its nuclear programme, but New Delhi cannot lose sight of its energy security needs, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told US secretary of state Hillary Clinton during a wide-ranging discussion here on Monday.

Iran was an important aspect of Hillary's meeting with Singh on Monday evening as she made it clear that US expects India to "do more" and be part of the international effort to curb Iran's reported bid to acquire nuclear weapons by defying inspection regimes.

The PM is understood to have said that India shared concerns over proliferation but needed to work out its responses at a time when fuel prices are high and the global economic situation worrisome. In comments ahead of the meeting, Hillary said India's has more options on energy than it had earlier.

The meeting, according to official sources, did not hit a bump on Iran despite both leaders outlining their views and Singh dwelling on the need to engage Tehran. The discussion lasted around 80 minutes, about half an hour more than what was scheduled, as the leaders went over Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, trade, security and the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement.

While both sides committed to strengthen their strategic partnership, tangible outcomes may take a while to be fully evident with the relationship seen to be in need of fresh momentum despite substantial convergence of interests.

US is keen on India moving on some reforms like liberalizing FDI in retail, a detail expected to have figured during Hillary's meeting with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata earlier in the day where she spoke of making the state a partner in US investment.

The meeting with Banerjee was significant as the US looks at West Bengal with new eyes after the state was "off bounds" during Left rule. The attempt to size up the new dispensation saw Banerjee also using the occasion to claim that Bengal was now investor-friendly.

After Hillary's meeting with Singh, sources said "The full gamut of bilateral relations came up for discussion." On Iran, the PM is also believed to have laid out India's reasons to continue to engage the state. Hillary had already indicated earlier in the day that she would press India to further reduce oil imports from Iran, although she acknowledged reduction in some imports. She stressed Iran's nuclear ambitions would have an adverse effect on the region.

On the security front, Afghanistan, China and Pakistan figured prominently in the talks. But the PM used the opportunity to tell the top US official American investment in infrastructure while the leaders also had an elaborate discussion on the state of the global economy.

Earlier in Kolkata, contentious issues, including the Teesta water-sharing agreement with Bangladesh, were kept under wraps. "There were certain strategic issues that came up in course of discussion, but I cannot reveal them because of political compulsion," Banerjee said after Hillary left for Delhi.

"They (the US) spoke of making Bengal a partner state for investment here," the Bengal CM said. "For a long time, there was hardly US investment in Bengal due to political reasons. But, now the situation has changed and is congenial for investment," she added.

Banerjee welcomed private investment in sectors such as information technology, education, healthcare and deep sea ports. At an interactive session at La Martinere for Girls' before her meeting with Banerjee, Hillary was clear about what she wanted to discuss. "I intend talking about investment ... and the Teesta water agreement with chief minister Mamata Banerjee. But I would be primarily interested in her vision for Bengal and the east. I would like to know what she wants to achieve. I have come here with a belief that India can compete. But you understand that there are political compulsions. So, a few things might have to wait," Hillary added.

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Agencies
May 19,2020

Ahmedabad, Nay 19: Over 2,200 Indian nationals stranded in the UK due to the coronavirus related international travel restrictions have been flown back home during the first phase of India's biggest ever repatriation exercise, according to official figures.

Since the first special Air India flight took off from London’s Heathrow Airport for Mumbai on May 8, there have been eight routes to different Indian cities from the UK for Indian students and tourists.

Indian nationals were flown home to the cities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

“We have facilitated repatriation of 2,288 Indians stranded in the UK through eight Air India flights till 17 May. Vande Bharat Mission continues to get Indians home,” said the Indian High Commission in London.

The Vande Bharat Mission is India’s biggest ever repatriation exercise to bring back Indians from abroad who are unable to travel home due to COVID-19 related international travel restrictions.

As the second phase of the repatriation process gets underway, retired Indian High Commissioner to the UK Ruchi Ghanashyam will be among the Indians flying back to New Delhi on Thursday.

“It has been such a hectic period, but I hope to return to the UK to say goodbyes in person sometime in the future,” Ghanashyam said during a virtual farewell organised by the Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA UK) on Monday.

As the packed flights take off daily, there are some still desperately waiting their turn, including those wanting to fly to some cities that are yet to be scheduled, including Kolkata.

“I have two young daughters, elderly parents, and a wife back at home. There is no way to return to Kolkata. I am worried for my parents,” says Suvendu, who came to the UK for work but recently lost his job.

“I am really surprised there are no Kolkata flights yet, but I am hoping they will be announced in the future,” adds Dr Arpita Ray, whose father needs to fly back home.

Another group waiting their turn to return home to their families in India includes students in the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) category, which remains suspended in India’s extended COVID-19 lockdown.

According to the regulations issued by the Indian government last month and updated last week, visas of foreign nationals and OCI cards, that provide visa-free travel privileges to the people of Indian-origin, have been suspended as part of the new international travel restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our plight is no different from the struggles being faced by Indian students who hold Indian passports – India is home for all us,” says Tridip, an undergraduate at SOAS University of London.

“Yes, air travel at this point of time may be a risk but we are of course ready to take all precautionary measures and undergo the mandatory quarantine period upon arrival in India," adds the 18-year-old.

“Having lived in India for the greater part of my life, India is home to me as much as it is to an Indian citizen, and just as any Indian citizen wishes for the comfort of home and family, so do I. I can only hope that the government reviews its policy on OCI holders and appeal to them to include us in their repatriation plans," says Atulit, an under-graduate student at Imperial College London.

Bianta, a student at Bangor University in Wales, adds: “Along with all of the mental stress, financially the UK is too expensive. In the coming weeks my rental agreement will expire, after which I will have nowhere to go.

“I cannot continue funding myself here in the UK as I only planned to be here till May marking the end of my course. Please help us get home. The colour of my passport does not define where my home is."

As all commercial international flights continue to be grounded, the second phase of the Vande Bharat Mission with a total of 149 flights is aimed at bringing back Indians from 40 countries. On landing in India, these travellers have a 14-day quarantine requirement at venues organised by the respective state governments. 

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News Network
May 10,2020

Mumbai, May 10: Air India, which is operating flights to evacuate Indians stranded in foreign countries, have asked its pilots to undertake coronavirus test before they operate such flights, the sources said.

"Five Air India pilots have tested positive for coronavirus. These pilots were tested one after one. We suspect it could be a case of faulty testing kit as well," one of the sources said.

The five pilots fly Boeing 787 planes, the second source said.

Air India spokesperson did not offer any comment.

A senior airline official said the five pilots had not operated any flight in the last three weeks.

"These pilots had operated cargo flights to China prior to April 20," the official said.

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News Network
June 29,2020

Kolkata, Jun 29: Sweet-loving Bengalis have something to cheer about in COVID-19 time as the West Bengal government decided to come out with a "sandesh" which will contain honey from Sundarbans and increase immunity, an official said on Sunday.

Cotton cheese made from cow milk will be mixed with pure honey from the Sunderbans to prepare the "Arogya Sandesh" which will also have extracts of tulsi leaves, an official of the Animal Resources Development Department said.

No artificial flavours would be added to the sweetmeat which will be available in the department's outlets in the city and neighbouring districts, he said.

The sandesh will boost the immune system as a whole but it is not a COVID-19 antidote, the official said.

Sunderbans Affairs Minister Manturam Pakhira said the honey for making Arogya Sandesh will be collected from beehives in places such as Pirkhali, Jharkhali and other parts of the Sunderbans and it will be stored in a scientific manner.

The sandesh is expected to hit the shelves in another two months and the pricing will be within the reach of the common man, the animal resources development department official said.

Earlier this month, a reputed sweetmeat chain of Kolkata came out with an "Immunity Sandesh" claiming that it contains various herbs and spices such as haldi (turmeric), tulsi, saffron, and cardamom and Himalayan honey, which will boost immunity to fight novel coronavirus.

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