MCD session adjourned amid uproar; panel polls in August
The mayor, Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said that the leader of the House had moved a proposal to nominate three members to the education committee and three members to the ad-hoc committee on Scheduled Caste Welfare and Reservation Implementation.
However, AAP councillors disrupted the session, raising slogans and creating a ruckus in the House over the reduction in the number of members in the SC Committee from 35 to 21.
AAP councillors demanded that the SC Committee be restored to its original strength to ensure adequate representation of the Dalit community.
Singh announced that elections for the posts of chairperson and vice-chairperson of special and ad-hoc committees will be held on August 6 and 7. The last date for filing nominations is July 31, the mayor said during a press conference held after the session, adding that all nominations submitted so far have been declared valid.
Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang said that BJP, driven by its hunger for power, had reduced the members in the SC committee just to ensure its own candidate becomes the chairperson. 'This is a direct attack on the rights of Dalits. Once again, BJP has proven that it is anti-Dalit and will go to the extent of even snatching away constitutional rights for political control,' he said.
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Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump taunts India with Pakistan deal, wants to dismantle Brics
TOI correspondent from Washington : Irked by India's dogged refusal to conclude a trade deal on his terms, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday taunted New Delhi by weaponising an oil exploration deal with Pakistan, jibing that Islamabad may be selling oil to India someday. At the same time, frustrated by his inability to force Moscow to end its war on Ukraine, he also petulantly unloaded on India for buying oil from Russia, saying "they can take their dead economies down together, for all I care." At a White House presser, Trump also publicly identified India's membership of BRICS as another irritant, calling it an anti-American group that was trying to undermine the US dollar even though none of the countries in the covey have suggested as much, and he has concluded opaque or vaguely-defined trade deals with China, Brazil, and South Korea. White House officials indicated that India's refusal to do even a framework agreement before the August 1 deadline had frustrated Trump and triggered the outburst, while acknowledging that negotiations are still in progress. The MAGA supremo's pique over India's stance has been on full display over the past 48 hours as he excoriated a country he still referred to as a "friend" while insisting the two sides were continuing talks to conclude a deal, with analysts seeing the tantrum as a pressure tactic aimed at bullying New Delhi. But with hours to go for his self-imposed August 1 deadline to conclude trade deals and India not even offering a fig-leaf of a sketchy agreement that the EU, Japan and other countries have, to assuage him, Trump turned up the heat on New Delhi, jeapordising more than 25 years of rebuilding and uptick in ties after India's 1998 nuclear test. Most jarring was his barb about potential future oil sales to India by Pakistan, a country he not so long ago called a terrorist haven that has given the US "nothing but lies & deceit." In a social media post, he announced a US deal with Pakistan. saying the two countries will work together on developing Pakistan's "massive" oil reserves, and the US is in the process of choosing the Oil Company that will lead the Partnership. "Who knows, maybe they'll be selling Oil to India some day!" he gibed. According to industry estimates, India's proven reserves are 13–30 times larger than Pakistan's, depending on the source (4.73–5.85 billion barrels vs. 193–353.5 million barrels). Even at the higher end of Pakistan's estimates, India's reserves dwarf them. Pakistan has frequently boasted of large unproven reserves, but industry analysts say these are speculative and require billions of dollars and years of exploration to realize it. India currently produces 1.02 million barrels per day but consumes 4.44 million bpd, while Pakistan produces 88,262 bpd against 556,000 bpd consumption. large unproven reserves, but these are speculative and require $5 billion and 4–5 years for exploration. Aside from his ire about BRICS, oil is the slippery slope that the two sides are sliding down in relation to India's purchase of oil from Russia, whose leader Vladimir Putin was his bestie till recently. "I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care," Trump raged churlishly. By all accounts, including by US experts, IMF, and World Bank, India's economy is far from dead, and remains one of the fastest growing in the world, clocking 6+ per cent. Despite India being U.S' 9th largest trade partner, with more than $130b in bilateral commerce, Trump also claimed "We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World." "Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let's keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he's still President, to watch his words. He's entering very dangerous territory!" he wrote, lashing out at a Putin ally who has frequently threatened US with nuclear consequences. Trump's angry burst of recrimination was fueled among others by South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham, long considered a war monger, who said the MAGA Supremo's approach to India "is the best way to achieve peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, and open up more markets for American goods." "President Trump is putting a 25% tariff on India plus an unspecified penalty for their trade protectionism and for being one of biggest purchasers of Russian energy, fueling Putin's war machine. Mr. President, you're spot in your approach to bringing this war to an end and opening up the world to American products. Tariffs away!" he wrote. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
New Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
BJP slams Rahul Gandhi for echoing Trump's ‘dead economy' remark, calls it a ‘shameful insult' to Indians
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kejriwal lauds 'honest' AAP regime, says previous governments 'ruined' Punjab
Arvind Kejriwal (PTI image) Accusing the previous governments of "ruining" Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said an "honest" regime led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is on the contrary working for the welfare of people. He lauded his party's government for acting tough against drug smugglers and bringing an "education revolution" in the state. Kejriwal was addressing a gathering on the occasion of the martyrdom day of legendary freedom fighter Udham Singh. The AAP chief earlier along with Mann paid tributes at the Shaheed Udham Singh memorial here. Kejriwal also blamed the previous governments for the problem of drug menace in the state. Taking potshots at the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP, he alleged, "The way their (previous) governments destroyed Punjab, government schools and hospitals, there was corruption everywhere, they looted money." "Punjab's situation has started improving in the last three years," said Kejriwal while referring to the AAP government's tenure in the state. On the state government's anti-drug drive, Kejriwal said the drug smugglers are being arrested and put behind bars. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brother Donates Kidney To Save Sister's Life. One Year Later, He Says, I Wish I Never Did It, When This Happens Daily Sport X Undo The backbone of drug supply networks has been broken and the manner in which this anti-drug campaign has been launched finds no parallel in contemporary Indian history, he added. Without naming anyone, the AAP chief said the most notorious and feared drug lord has been put behind bars by the state government. Kejriwal further said exemplary action will be taken against such people, who ruined the future of our coming generations, adding none of them will be spared for such heinous crimes. The former Delhi chief minister said Punjab has seen "revolutionary" changes in every sector under the AAP regime. "Today, an education revolution is going on in Punjab. Good results (of government schools) are coming. The children of poor families are now joining IITs and they are becoming engineers, doctors and advocates. People of Punjab never expected such a government," he added. Asserting canal water is now reaching the tail end of villages, the AAP national convener said, "During previous governments, farmers had to wake up in the night to switch on their motors (to irrigate their crops)." "But today, farmers are getting eight hours of electricity supply during the day time and it is happening for the first time," he added. Kejriwal said the work on construction of 20,000 km of rural roads in the state will start from September. Escalating his attack on the previous governments, Kejriwal said that they used to claim lack of funds for carrying out development works. "We never said there are no funds. It is the same money, same budget, same officers but those who run the governments have changed. It is the AAP government, which is an honest government. We are doing all your works," he added. Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 85 crore to give facelift to Shaheed Udham Singh Wala town, the AAP leader said that the legendary freedom fighter made a supreme sacrifice for the sake of the country's freedom. India's freedom struggle saw countless sacrifices for the sake of the country to carve out an egalitarian society to ensure welfare of the weaker and underprivileged sections, he added. Kejriwal, however, said it is unfortunate that even after 75 years of freedom none of their aspirations have been fulfilled as those in power misused their authority to plunder wealth. Speaking at the event, Mann said it is the state government's duty to pay tributes to such legendary martyrs, who laid down their lives for the sake of the country. The chief minister said that naming airports, universities and other institutions in the name of these iconic martyrs is important to perpetuate their glorious legacy. Mann said the AAP is making tireless efforts to realize the dreams of the legendary martyrs, adding it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that this government is making concerted efforts in this regard. The state government has been making efforts to ensure comprehensive development of the state and prosperity of its people, he added. The chief minister also spoke about the 'Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna', which will provide cashless medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh for every resident family in Punjab. Punjab is the first state in the country to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage, which will significantly ease the financial burden on the public while ensuring quality health services. He said that 55,000 government jobs have been given so far to the state's youth, Aam Aadmi clinics have been opened to impart quality health services to people, schools have been renovated across the state and canal water is reaching the tail end to benefit farmers.
