India News
Iran: More Indian ports may transit through Chabahar port
Iranian minister appreciates India’s railway development
In a major development, Iranian ambassador Gholamreza Ansari has said that Chabahar port has positively improved transportation activities between the two countries and will open door to transit cooperation with more Indian ports.
Ansari made these remarks on Friday while talking to IRNA, at New Delhi, at the sidelines of a meeting between Abbas Akhundi, the visiting Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development and Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Railways.
Iran’s minister attended a marketing event for Chabahar port being jointly developed by the two countries. The two sides discussed the proposed $ 6 billion MoU for producing 200 locomotives and freight wagons worth $6 billion.
The envoy said he was positive on the outcome of future collaboration between the two countries in transportation areas. He said that successful development of the Chabahar port will lead to the establishment of links with other Indian ports as well.
Ansari said that generally speaking, the discussion between the two sides were very constructive. He voiced his hope that the MoU will be finalized soon and become operational during the coming high level meetings.
Iranian ambassador appreciated India’s stance saying ‘Fortunately, the Indian government has announced that it will provide the necessary funding for joint projects between India and Iran so there is no challenge in the bilateral.”
However, he said the biggest obstacle on the implementation of agreements of this scale would normally be the financial support that must be given to them.
Iran has been facing the issues in international funds transfer due to US sanctions against. India owes huge Iranian money for purchasing oil from that country.
According to IRNA, the first phase of Chabahar port development project is of prime importance for both Iran and India. India sees Chabahar Port as a golden opportunity to enhance its regional role and cooperation, the report said.
In October last year, India sent first shipment of 110,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan through the Iranian port under a trilateral transit and trade agreement signed in May 2016 among India, Iran and Afghanistan.
In early December Iranian President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated the first phase of Chabahar port. The ceremony was attended by 60 foreign guests from 17 countries. Minister of Finance and Shipping R. Ponniah Ayyappan Radhakrishnan attended the ceremony.
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj also made a stopover in Tehran, while returning from Sochi, Russia, on December 2, a day before the inauguration of the port. According to MEA sources, she discussed with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif the “inauguration of Chabahar port,” which will openAfghanistan and Central Asia to Indian commerce.
India has committed $500 million to building two berths at Chabahar to process trade and develop an economic zone around them, as well as $1.6 billion for a 650-km rail link from Chabahar to Zahedan and into Afghanistan. Iran is completing the current construction at Chabahar at a cost of $340 million.
Outlining the outcome of his visit to India, Iranian Minister said that two countries have agreed to sign agreements worth 2 billion dollars in railway transportation and Chabahar Port development project.
He said that three important issues, including the development of the Chabahar to Zahedan railway, production of 200 locomotives for freight trains and joint production of rails were discussed between the two countries.
Regarding the development of Chabahar to Zahedan railway, he said that “The officials of the Indian company which is involved in this project visited Iran last week to make the necessary inspections and came back to their officials with proposals about the development of the railroad link.”
Regarding the production of 200 locomotives for freight trains, the Iranian minister said, ‘It was an important deal between India and Iran. India is ready to fund the project.’ A portion of the locomotives will be produced in Iran while the total estimated cost for the project would be 600 million dollars.
He appreciated India’s advances in railway sector saying” India has immensely focused on developing its railway industries and has up-to-date technologies, so co-operating with India for Iran means gaining access to the latest technology in the world in this particular field.’
2024 Lok Sabha Elections
Election Commission advises Bengal Governor to not visit Cooch Behar on voting day
The Election Commission advised the Bengal Governor to call off his proposed visit to Cooch Behar on April 19.
West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose has been warned by the Election Commission of India (ECI) not to visit Cooch Behar on April 18 and 19, since the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls will begin with a silence period on Wednesday evening.
According to those familiar with the situation in the EC, the poll body informed the governor’s office that no local program could be planned for the governor on April 19 due to the Model Code of Conduct and the election day.
The poll body added that if they had to provide local security cover for this unexpected proposed visit without a imminently known requirement, the tour would be a diversion because the district administration and police force will be completely occupied with election management on April 18 and 19.
As a result, under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, campaigning is prohibited in Cooch Behar starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
In order to ensure a free and fair election process, the poll board has asked all district election officers and district police chiefs to make sure that all prominent individuals, campaigners, and political workers who are not local voters leave the polling area once the silence period begins.
The seven phases of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will take place between April to June. Polls will be conducted in seven phases: the first on April 19 and the seventh on June 1. On June 4, the results will be announced.
India News
Lamborghini Gallardo worth nearly Rs 1 crore set on fire over business dispute
A video circulating on social media shows the luxury car Lamborghini Gallardo being burned and reduced to ashes. The police officials said a complaint has been registered by Neeraj, a car reseller who had bought the luxury car from its original owner.
A person who deals in the sale and purchase of old luxury cars and a few others has allegedly burnt an old but expensive model of Lamborghini Gallardo on a road in Hyderabad over a dispute with its owner on Monday. The police said the owner of the Lamborghini Gallardo, Neeraj wanted to sell off the vehicle, estimated to be worth up to Rs 1 crore, and had informed some of his friends to look for a buyer.
The police added that the main accused Ahmed had called a friend of Neeraj and asked him to bring the car. The said friend of Neeraj was known to the Ahmed. When the luxury car was brought to Mamidipalli Road which is situated on the city outskirts Ahmed along with a few others, burnt the luxury car using petrol and claimed that Neeraj owed him money.
A video circulating on social media shows the luxury car Lamborghini Gallardo being burned and reduced to ashes. The police officials said a complaint has been registered by Neeraj, a car reseller who had bought the luxury car from its original owner. By the time fire department vehicles arrived at the scene it was too late as the luxury car was engulfed in flames and badly damaged. A video of the burning Lamborghini Gallardo has been circulating on social media.
The incident is a proof to the lengths to which disputes can rise. An expert spoke about the car that got burnt and said it was the Gallardo Spyder. He pointed out that it is a substantially older gen model which can only be found in the resale market. The expert further added the car has a powerful 5-litre NA V10 engine that made 513 horse power and 510 Nm of peak torque.
2024 Lok Sabha Elections
2024 Lok Sabha elections: TMC releases manifesto, Mamata Banerjee vows to scrap CAA, stop NRC
The Trinamool Congress has today released its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections
West Bengal CM Mamta Banarjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) today released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In its manifesto, the TMC pledged to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), stop the development of a National Register of citizens and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and stop its implementation nationwide.
The manifesto was unveiled by Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien, West Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, and Amit Mitra, who is the Special Advisor to the Chief Minister. However, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was not present at the event.
As Derek O’Brien unveiled the manifesto, he said, this is what they will do when the TMC, as part of INDIA bloc, forms government.
The Citizenship Amendment Act has long been opposed by the Trinamool Congress. Five years after it was approved by Parliament, the central government finally put the CAA into effect last month.
The party led by Mamata Banerjee has also expressed resistance to the National Register of Citizens proposal, claiming that West Bengal will never adopt it.
The manifesto titled Didi’s 10 sapaths, alludes to 10 oaths made by Mamata Banerjee, popularly known as Didi.
The Mamata Banerjee-led party additionally pledges to raise the daily allowance under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to Rs 400 per day in addition to the UCC and CAA. Everyone has also been offered pucca houses by the party.
A monthly pension of Rs 1,000 for people over 60, free home delivery of 5 kg of ration for every ration card user, 10 free LPG cylinders annually for families below the poverty line, and universal healthcare coverage worth Rs 10 lakh are among the other significant commitments made.
Additionally, the Trinamool Congress has pledged to establish a price stabilization fund in order to control the cost of gasoline and LPG.
The party has assured the youth that every student will receive a monthly stipend up until the age of 25. A student credit card of Rs. 10 lakh will be awarded to those who choose to continue their education.
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