PM to meet Sharif, have summit with Obama in US

September 25, 2013
New Delhi, Sep 25: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said he will be meeting his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), setting at rest all speculations about the meeting. Before that he meets President Barack Obama on Sep 27 in Washington. Indo_Pak

In his departure statement before embarking on a five-day visit to the US, Prime Minister Singh said his summit meeting with President Obama would be an opportunity to review bilateral cooperation and chart a course for future cooperation.

The much-anticipated Manmohan-Sharif meeting is expected to be over breakfast on Sep 29 on the sidelines of the UNGA. The Pakistan prime minister is already in New York. The Indian leader will also have an important meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to share views and iron out issues between the two neighbours.

"During my visit to New York, I also look forward to bilateral meetings with the leaders of some of our neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan," the prime minister said in his statement.

This is the first confirmation of the meeting between the two prime ministers. India has maintained there are certain "harsh realities" on the ground. Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh has said that "we continue to face acts of terrorism by groups operating from Pakistan and territories under the control of Pakistan. There are also many persons engaging in hostile propaganda against India, who continue to roam freely in Pakistan."

Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the Pakistan prime minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, has in an interview to an Indian TV channel said last week that he has "low expectations on the outcome" of the meeting between the two prime ministers.

Manmohan Singh, who will hold his third summit meeting with Obama, said India-US ties "which is one of our most important relationships, has transformed into a global strategic partnership". The meeting is expected to focus on implementation of the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal, on enhancing defence cooperation and Afghanistan.

President Obama has described India-US relations as one of the "defining partnerships of the 21st century". Vice President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State John Kerry visited India earlier this year to set the stage for Manmohan Singh's working visit.

The prime minister said India and the US have "registered impressive progress in our cooperation across the full spectrum of the relationship".

India views the US as "a long-term partner in our development efforts, and in fostering a global environment that is conducive to our growth".

"For India, the US remains a key source of technology, investment, innovation and resources, and one of the most important destinations for our goods and services. We have productive and deepening partnerships in trade and investment, defence, counter-terrorism, intelligence, internal security, cyber security, civil nuclear energy, environment, health, higher education, space, science and technology and culture. People-to-people contacts are a strong feature of our engagement. We have also launched development partnership in third countries," said the departure statement.

In his address to the UNGA on Sep 28, the prime minister said he would "emphasize the importance of maintaining poverty eradication and inclusive development at the core of the post-2015 development agenda".

"The Sustainable Development Goals that are expected to be drawn up as part of the follow-up to the Rio+20 Conference should ensure a holistic approach to sustainable development objectives, ensuring a balanced treatment of its economic, social and environmental dimensions as well as universal applicability".

The prime minister said he would also convey India's "strong conviction that global challenges are best addressed through multilateral approaches, with the United Nations at its centre".

India would also press for early reform of institutions of global political and economic governance, particularly the United Nations Security Council, he said.

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February 24,2020

New Delhi, Dec 24: The Delhi Police said that a head constable was killed during clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in northeast Delhi today.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara, Amit Sharma was also injured during clashes, a senior official said. Sharma suffered injuries to his head and hand. He was hospitalised and is doing fine, the official added.

Tension escalated in northeast Delhi with protesters torching at least two houses and a fire tender in the Jaffrabad and Maujpur areas, where pro and anti-CAA groups clashed for the second consecutive day on Monday and hurled stones at each other.

Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad.

Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters.

According to officials, a fire tender was damaged by the protesters after it responded to a fire call in the area.

The Delhi Metro closed entry and exit at the Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations as an uneasy calm prevailed in the area.

"Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a tweet.

Entry and exit were closed at the Jaffrabad metro station for over 24 hours.

Clashes broke out on Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad after a large number of people protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) blocked a road, while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the national capital.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged lieutenant governor of Delhi and the Union home minister to restore order.

Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate violence, he said.

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal instructed the police commissioner to maintain law and order in the national capital in the wake of violence.

"Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony," Baijal tweeted.

Delhi minister and Babarpur MLA Gopal Rai on Monday urged the people in the area to maintain peace, saying some people were purposely trying to disturb the atmosphere.

"With folded hands, I request people in Babarpur Assembly to maintain peace. Some people are purposely trying to spoil the atmosphere. I have spoken to Delhi LG and he has assured me that more policemen will be deployed to bring the situation under control," Rai said in a tweet.

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News Network
May 23,2020

New Delhi, May 23: On the occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the ongoing holy month of Ramzan, a select group of people offered namaz at Delhi's Jama Masjid ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, while adhering to social distancing following relaxations in the fourth phase of the COVID-19 lockdown.

"A large number of people wanted to offer prayers today but we told them they should do so from their homes. Only the staff of the mosque and a few members of the family offered prayers here," Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid said.

The coronavirus pandemic has also marred the excitement of Eid for the vegetable and fruit vendors in neighbouring Daryaganj.

The fourth phase of nation-wide lockdown extended till May 31, began from Monday in which markets and shops were allowed to open. However, due to persisting fear of COVID-19, the sale of products is yet to pick pace.

Unlike each year, the market lacks the sheen this Eid with no bustle and people cautious about venturing out.

Salim, who has been selling cheese and curd in the market for the last 35 years, told ANI, "I have never seen such an Eid. There is an atmosphere of fear in the minds of people."

Another fruit seller Haseen Malik said that "During the month of Ramadan, most people relish fruits such as musk melon, sweet lemon and watermelon so there is some demand for it. But there is no excitement for Eid this year. The sale has been at an all-time low because of the lockdown."

In the wake of the festival and to ensure social distancing, Delhi Police has made elaborate security arrangements. 

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July 11,2020

New Delhi, Jul 11: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor took a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday, saying this is time to fight the coronavirus not elections and that he should not endanger people's lives in a "hurry" to hold the assembly polls.

"The coronavirus situation in Bihar is worsening like it is in many other states of the country. But a big part of government machinery and resources are busy making preparation for the polls.

"Nitish Kumar ji, this isn't time to fight elections but the coronavirus. Don't endanger people's lives in this hurry to hold the polls," he tweeted.

Kishor, once a confidant of the JD(U) president before he turned a critic and was expelled from the party, joins leaders like LJP chief Chirag Paswan and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav in suggesting that the Bihar assembly polls should be deferred due to the pandemic.

Polls in Bihar are due in October-November but the Election Commission has so far not made any official announcement about its schedule.

The BJP and the JD(U) have been holding organisational meetings and said that they are ready for the elections.

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