Will see what lesson ''best friend'' Trump has for Modi, says Digvijaya
Bhopal: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday took a swipe at the visit of US President Donald Trump and claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "best friend" had begun opposing India's economic policies even before setting foot in the country.
Trump is scheduled to arrive in Ahmedabad in Gujarat on February 24 and will take part in several events, including a lunch hosted by PM Modi and a banquet by President Ram Nath Kovind, before flying back the next day.
"Will see what lesson Modi's best friend Donald Trump gives before returning. He has already opposed India's economic policies," Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh, tweeted.
Four days ago Trump had said that India was not treating the United States "very well" on the trade front and had indicated that an expansive trade deal may not be signed during his visit.
In January 2015, then US president Barack Obama had finished his three-day visit by prodding India on religious freedom, and had said "India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along any lines, and it is unified as one nation".
Singh at the time had thanked Obama for the statement and had asked Modi if he would take "friend Barack's advice" and rein in Hindu fundamentalists.
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Karnataka HC permits Bangalore Hotel Association to serve free food to voters after polling
Bengaluru: The High Court has given the go-ahead to the Bangalore Hotel Association to serve food for free to customers who visit the member-restaurants after casting their votes in the Lok Sabha elections in the city.
The single-judge bench of the High Court, consisting of Justice M Nagaprasanna, heard the case on Wednesday and gave a judgement in favour of the Association.
The Association, which has come up with the offer in coordination with Hotel Nisarga Grand, had clarified earlier that it was offering free food to customers in order to promote voting and help Bengaluru record a high voter turnout. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), however, had challenged in court the Association's application seeking permission to give free food to customers who have voted.
The advocate representing the Association during the hearing on Wednesday told the High Court that the offer was not made to customers with an intention of political gain but only aimed at promoting voter turnout on the day of polling. "The Association has given free food to the voters after polling and requests the High Court to permit it to do so this year too," the lawyer asked the bench.
Justice Nagaprasanna, who heard the arguments presented by both parties, opined that the efforts of the Association at ensuring a high voter turnout were laudable. He passed a judgement permitting hotel owners who were members of the Association to provide voters food for free after they cast their ballots.
