THE HEADLINES:
- Mr Narendra Modi takes charge as Prime Minister; Releases 17th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.
- NDA government likely to hold its first Cabinet meeting this evening in New Delhi.
- Election Commission announces schedule of bye-election to 13 Assembly constituencies of seven States.
- In Jammu and Kashmir security forces launch massive search operation in Reasi terror attack; LG announces 10 lakh rupees ex-gratia each for families of victims.
- And, IMD issues red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka today.
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Mr. Narendra Modi today took charge as Prime Minister for the third time. After assuming the charge, Mr Modi signed the first file authorising release of 17th instalment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi. This will benefits nine crore 30 lakh farmers by distributing around twenty thousand crore rupees. Mr Modi said, his first decision of the new government shows commitment of government to farmer welfare. He said, his government is fully committed to welfare of farmers. Prime Minister Modi said, his government will keep working even more for the farmers and the agriculture sector in the times to come. More from our correspondent.
The PM-KISAN Scheme was launched in 2019 with an aim to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country. Under the scheme, the financial benefit of six thousand rupees per year is provided to the eligible family of farmers. The scheme is being implemented as Central Sector Scheme with 100 per cent financial support by the Central government. The amount is being transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, in three installments of two thousand rupees. The scheme has benefited more than 11 crore farmer families and over three lakh crore rupees has been transfered in their account till date. Anand Kumar, Akashvani News, Delhi.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India will continue to work for peace, progress and prosperity of the region during his third term. In this context, he called for deeper people-to-people ties and connectivity in the region. Mr Modi was meeting the visiting leaders of India’s neighbourhood and Indian Ocean Region at Rashtrapati Bhavan last night, after his swearing-in ceremony. Thanking them for gracing the occasion, the Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR Vision’. Mr Modi said, India will continue to amplify the voice of the Global South in the international arena.
Mr. Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term last evening. President Droupadi Murmu administered the Oath of Office and Secrecy to Mr Modi along with the members of the new Council of Ministers at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan. During the Swearing-in Ceremony, 30 Cabinet Ministers, five Ministers of State (Independent Charge) and 36 Ministers of State took oath.
Meanwhile, the first meeting of the new Union Cabinet is expected to be held today. The meeting is likely to take place in the evening.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked world leaders for their congratulatory message on taking oath as the Prime Minister for the third time. In a reply to Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Modi said, India is looking forward to work with Canada based on mutual understanding and respect for each others concerns.
Prime Minister Modi said, he is also looking forward to closely working with Finland to build on the momentum in India- Finland ties and further deepen the two nation’s partnership.
Appreciating Prime Minister of Slovenian Robert Golob for warm greetings, Prime Minister Modi said, both the nation will continue to deepen close partnership between India and Slovenia in his third term.
President of Uganda Yoweri K Museveni congratulated Narendra Modi. In a reply, Mr Modi said, they will advance their strong partnership with Uganda. Microsoft founder Bill Gates also congratulated Narendra Modi on winning a third term as Prime Minister saying Mr Modi has strengthened India’s position as a source of innovation for global progress.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on securing a third term in the office. Sharif extended his felicitation to Modi after he took oath of the office yesterday.
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In Odisha, the suspense over the name of next chief minister continues with only two days left for the swearing-in of the first BJP government on Wednesday. The BJP has appointed Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupender Yadav as central observers to oversee the election of the leader of its MLAs in the Odisha Assembly. The BJP legislature party is likely to meet tomorrow morning in presence of the central observers in the state capital Bhubaneswar. Many names including senior BJP MLA Suresh Pujari, who returned to Bhubaneswar this morning from Delhi after meeting senior party leaders, are doing the rounds for the post of the chief minister.
More from our Odisha correspondent.
Hectic parleys are on in Bhubaneswar over the name of the first BJP chief minister of Odisha after the party had a resounding victory in the just concluded Assembly elections. Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupender Yadav who have been appointed as central observers are likely to arrive at Bhubaneswar tonight or tomorrow morning. The BJP legislature party has been convened tomorrow at 11 in the morning where the leader of the legislature party is likely to be elected by consensus. Senior party MLA from Brajrajnagar Suresh Pujari who returned from Delhi this morning said that all should wait for the announcement by the central observers on the next chief minister of the state. Mr Pujari is said to be a front runner for the post of chief minister of Odisha. The BJP may also come up with a surprise name for the chief minister’s post. Meanwhile, all preparations are on for the grand swearing-in function of the new chief minister at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a grand roadshow at Bhubaneswar before attending the swearing-in ceremony. The BJP won 78 seats in the 147-member assembly, scoring a majority for the first time in the state, ending the Biju Janata Dal’s over 24 years rule under outgoing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Prakash Dash
Akashvani News Bhubaneswar.
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In Sikkim, the swearing-in ceremony of Prem Singh Tamang as the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers will be held today at 4 PM at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. In the light of the swearing-in ceremony, all government and private schools, colleges, and academic institutions within Gangtok Municipal Corporation area will remain closed today. More from our correspondent:-
In Sikkim, all preparations have been put in place at the Paljor Stadium in State capital Gangtok for the swearing-in ceremony of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha President and Chief Minister designate Prem Singh Tamang as Chief Minister of the State for the second time at four this afternoon. His Council of Ministers will also be sworn-in today itself along with Mr. Tamang. State Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Tamang and his Council of Ministers. In a unique style, chanting of prayers by Budhist monks, singing hymns by Christian Choir group and vedic chanting by Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya as well as vedic chanting for peace, prosperity, happiness and well-being of the State will also be parts of the main feature of today’s swearing-in ceremony. Ibomcha Sharma, Akashvani News, Gangtok.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister- designate N Chandrababu Naidu will also be sworn in on Wednesday at Gannavaram in Krishna district. This will be the second time Mr Naidu will take oath as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh post bifurcation in 2014 and first Telugu person to take oath as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth time. The TDP-led NDA coalition with JSP and BJP won a landslide victory in the Assembly elections held on May 13, with the alliance winning 164 seats. The TDP alone won 135 seats, while the JSP won all 21 it contested and BJP won eight of the 10 it contested.
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The Election Commission has announced the schedule of bye-election to 13 Assemblies constituencies of seven States. Of them, four Assembly constituencies are in West Bengal, three in Himachal Pradesh, two in Uttarakhand and one each in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. The Commission said, the polling for these assembly Constituencies will be held on the 10th of next month and counting will take place on the 13th of July.
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An NIA team today reached Reasi district and is coordinating with local police probing into the terror attack on a passenger bus on Sunday evening that left 10 people dead and several injured. Akashvani Jammu Correspondent reports that the security forces have also launched a massive cordon and search operation to track down the terrorists responsible for the attack. Terrorists opened fire at the 53 seater bus, on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge near the Teryath village of the Poni area in Reasi district on Sunday.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today termed the terror attack in Reasi that killed 10 pilgrims as a nefarious attempt to bring Jammu region into turmoil. He also said that the Prime Minister and Home Minister are also monitoring the situation themselves since yesterday and that a joint operation is going on in the area to track down the attackers.
LG Manoj Sinha further announced an ex-gratia of 10 lakh rupees to be given to the next of kin of pilgrims martyred and a sum of Rs. 50,000 to the injured in Reasi terror attack.
The President and Vice President have expressed grief over the terror attack on a pilgrim’s bus in Jammu and Kashmir.
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The advanced security carcade team of Manipur CM N. Biren Singh, en route to Jiribam, was ambushed by some unknown armed miscreants near Kotlen Sinam village along NH 37 (Imphal-Jiribam Road), which falls under New Keithelmanbi of Kangpokpi District today around 10:30 am. However, the CM was not with the team, as he was scheduled to visit Jiribam tomorrow to monitor the law and order situation of the district and meet the affected families taking shelter in different relief camps, following fresh communal tension that erupted in the district.
The police report stated that one police personnel sustained injuries in the ambush and was hospitalized for further treatment. Additional security forces have been deployed to the incident site, and search operations have been initiated to arrest the miscreants.
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Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has assured the Delhi Government that he will talk to the Haryana government on releasing water from the Yamuna into the national capital. Addressing the media after an emergency meeting today with Mr Saxena on water scarcity, Delhi Water Minister Atishi noted that the city is yet to receive water from Himachal Pradesh as well. She said that Haryana is not releasing this water due to their alleged dispute with Himachal Pradesh.
During the meeting, the Minister also discussed various issues with regard to the Delhi Jal Board including shortage of staff and officers. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party today staged a protest outside the BJP’s office in Delhi on the on-going water crisis.
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Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s three-man war Cabinet, announced his resignation yesterday. This war cabinet was formed shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel in October, last year. Mr Gantz said the decision was made with a “heavy heart”.
The move does not pose an immediate threat to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as he still maintains control over a majority coalition in parliament.
Gantz had earlier stated that he would depart from the government by 8th June unless Netanyahu devised a new strategy for postwar Gaza.
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Spain’s People’s Party (PP) came out on top in European Union’s election garnering 22 seats out of the 61 allocated to the country.
Sanchez’s Socialists, spearheaded by Energy Minister Teresa Ribera, earned only 20 seats after a campaign in which the opposition charged private corruption allegations on the Sanchez party.
Spain has the fourth largest number of parliamentary seats allocated in the European Union’s assembly of 720.
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French President Emmanuel Macron has called snap parliamentary elections later this month in the wake of a big victory for his rival Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in the European Parliament vote. Exit polls say, the far-right party is on course to win 32% of the vote, more than twice that of the president Macron’s Renaissance party. Announcing the dissolution of parliament, he said the two rounds of voting will take place on 30th of June and 7th of July.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning over parts of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka today due to heavy to very heavy rainfall. The IMD has credited this weather disturbance to a cyclonic circulation over the Marathwada region in lower tropospheric levels. It added that light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds will descend over Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep and Andhra Pradesh during the next 3 to 4 days.
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In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Scotland beat Oman by 7 wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua last night. Batting first Oman scored 150 for 7 in stipulated 20 overs. In reply, Scotland chased down the target in 13 overs with 7 wickets in hand.
In today’s league match, South Africa will play against Bangladesh this evening at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, US.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Mr Narendra Modi takes charge as Prime Minister; Releases 17th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.
- NDA government likely to hold its first Cabinet meeting this evening in New Delhi.
- Election Commission announces schedule of bye-election to 13 Assembly constituencies of seven States.
- In Jammu and Kashmir security forces launch massive search operation in Reasi terror attack; LG announces 10 lakh rupees ex-gratia each for families of victims.
- And, IMD issues red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka today.
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