THE HEADLINES:
• India and Sri Lanka exchange protocol amending agreement for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes in income.
• Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assures Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to let the country’s territory be used for anti-India activities.
• Rajya Sabha discusses glorious journey of 75 years of Indian Constitution; Lok Sabha takes up discussion on ‘First Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants’ for current fiscal.
• Vijay Diwas celebrated across the country today to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 war.
• And a low-pressure area develops over central south Bay of Bengal due to upper air cyclonic circulation; IMD forecast heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 2-3 days.
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India and Sri Lanka today exchanged protocol amending agreement between the two countries for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes in income. Both sides also exchanged MoU on training and capacity building of civil servants of Sri Lanka. The agreements were exchanged after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in New Delhi. Both leaders held discussions on issues of mutual interest.
A grant assistance of 14.9 million dollars for the signaling project in Maho-Anuradhapura section was announced on the occasion. Financial assistance scheme to 100 new students each annually from the University of Jaffna and Eastern University until the end of academic courses of the beneficiaries was also announced. Both leaders agreed to further intensify political engagements at leadership and ministerial levels.
In his press statement, Prime Minister Modi expressed happiness that Mr Dissanayake has chosen India for his first foreign visit as President. He said, both sides also discussed issues related to the livelihood of fishermen.
In his statement, Mr Dissanayake said, he has given an assurance to the Prime Minister of India that they will not allow Sri Lanka to be used in any way in a manner that is detrimental to the interest of India.
Later, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar today called on President of Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Disanayaka,in New Delhi.
Briefing the media about the Sri Lankan President’s visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the fact that Mr Dissanayake has chosen India to be his first foreign destination after assuming office shows the importance that Sri Lanka attaches to the bilateral relationship with India.
The Foreign Secretary mentioned that President Dissanayake thanked PM Narendra Modi for India’s support, especially for 4 billion dollars aid in 2022-2023. Mr. Misri also noted that the two countries are pursuing various connectivity projects, including a multi-product petroleum pipeline between the two nations.
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The Rajya Sabha today began a special discussion on the glorious journey of 75 years of the Constitution of India with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman leading the charge from the treasury bench to target the opposition on the issues of freedom of expression and protecting the Constitution. Initiating the discussion, Ms. Sitharaman targeted the Congress for imposing emergency in the Country saying the term of the Lok sabha was extended during the emergency without proper justification and during the extended term, the entire opposition was put to jail. The Minister said, it is time to reaffirm commitment to build India that will uphold the spirit enshrined in this sacred document. She said, India’s experience has shown that the country’s constitution remains robust and has stood the test of time.
The Minister asserted that BJP has always been committed for the welfare of women and Women reservation. Ms Sitharaman asserted that the BJP government is committed to protect the Constitution.
Participating in the discussion, Leader of Opposition in the House, Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of undermining the Constitution. He said, it is the Congress which has given Universal adult franchise rights to the people to vote.
On the issue of employment, Mr Kharge alleged that the Centre has failed to fulfil its promises of providing two crore jobs every year. He listed out the various schemes brought by the Congress government for the welfare of the poor.
Saket Gokhle of AITC accused the government of undermining the constitution.
Tiruchi Shiva of DMK termed the Indian Constitution as a unique and enduring document which has withstood many crises and the taste of time. V Vijayasai Reddy of YSRCP said that the Constitution has become a beacon of hope for an ordinary citizen.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that India is the mother of democracy and it will be remembered as the exemplar of 20th and 21st Century as the largest, most vibrant, youngest and most diverse democracy.
Sulata Deo of BJD accused the government of undermining the Constitution and raised the issue of the present situation in Manipur. Mukul Wasnik of Congress said, it is a matter of pride that India of today is united due to the Constitution despite diversity.
Praful Patel of NCP said that it is the Narendra Modi government which has honoured the ideology of Dr B R Ambedkar and not the Congress. He also accused the previous Congress government of misusing the Article 356 to destabilise the State governments.
Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora highlighted several steps by the Modi government which helped strengthen the Constitution in the recent past. NR Elango of DMK, Dola Sen of AITC, Subhas Chandra Bose Pilli, Niranjan Reddy of YSRCP and Anhisekh Manu Singhvi among others also participated in the discussion. Later, the House was adjourned for the day.
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The Lok Sabha today took up the discussion on the Supplementary Demands for Grants – First Batch for 2024-2025. The government has sought approval of Parliament to authorise gross additional expenditure of over 87 thousand 762 crore rupees. Out of this, the proposals involve net cash outgo aggregate to 44 thousand 142 crore rupees for payments of debts, liabilities, and interest rates.
Initiating the discussion, K C Venugopal of Congress alleged that the wages in key sectors like IT, Logistic, retail, FMCG and banking have not risen significantly over the last few years. Dr Sanjay Jaiswal of BJP said, the government is demanding 25 thousand crore rupee for the farmers under this Supplementary Demands for Grants. He said, around four lakh 50 thousand crore rupees is being given as subsidy to the poor and farmers of the country in 2024-25.
Sougata Ray of TMC alleged that there is an economic crisis and the growth projection for the last quarter has slipped to 5.4 per cent. D M Kathir of DMK said there is no improvement in employment rate. TDP MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy said, Narendra Modi government has brought several schemes for the welfare of the poor people. Supriya Sule of NCP (SP) said, foreign borrowings has substantially gone up in this country. Other members including Jagdambika Pal of BJP, Dr Amar Singh of Congress and Dharmendra Yadav of SP also participated in the discussion. However, the discussion remained inconclusive. Later the House was adjourned for the day.
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TMC MP and party National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee today said that people who raise questions about EVMs should go and demonstrate to the Election Commission. Mr. Banerjee was speaking to the media outside Parliament.
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In Chhattisgarh, two important MoUs were signed in Raipur today in the presence of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. An MoU was signed between Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Union Limited and National Cooperative Organics Limited. Another agreement was signed between the Government of Chhattisgarh and the National Dairy Development Board for the development of the dairy sector.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was also present on this occasion. Addressing the event, Union Minister Shah said that from today, the forest produce of the tribal community, which was earlier sold at throwaway prices, will now be sold at a fair price through certification and better marketing.
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Vijay Diwas was celebrated across the country today to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 war. Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs who laid down their lives during the war. The end of the war also resulted in subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh today paid tribute to the valiant soldiers of the 1971 war on the occasion of Vijay Diwas.
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A low-pressure area has developed over the central south Bay of Bengal under the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation. It is expected to intensify and move west-northwest towards the Tamil Nadu coast over the next two days.
According to India Meteorological Department, IMD, Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema are expected to experience heavy rainfall during the next 2-3 days.
The Commission for Air Quality Management has reimposed the revised third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the Delhi-NCR region following the sharp rise in air pollution.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
• India and Sri Lanka exchange protocol amending agreement for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes in income.
• Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assures Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to let the country’s territory be used for anti-India activities.
• Rajya Sabha discusses glorious journey of 75 years of Indian Constitution; Lok Sabha takes up discussion on ‘First Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants’ for current fiscal.
• Vijay Diwas celebrated across the country today to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 war.
• And a low-pressure area develops over central south Bay of Bengal due to upper air cyclonic circulation; IMD forecast heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 2-3 days.
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