'PM who travelled the most on taxpayers' money': TMC MP Mahua Moitra slams Modi's 5-nation tour
New Delhi (PTI): As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a five-nation tour, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday called him a "globetrotting" PM and asked why diplomatic efforts of the government were "unable" to isolate Pakistan at the global stage.
In a video statement, Moitra said Modi is "probably the one Prime Minister who's travelled the most on taxpayers' money, apparently cementing India in the global world order and making sure that we are in prime position".
"A few questions, how is it that after all your diplomatic outreach and after all of India's efforts, that today the leader of the free world is openly professing love for what is known as a terror hub, is having meals with its army chief. And worst of all, India and Pakistan have been hyphenated together, something that was unthinkable even 10 years ago," Moitra said.
She was apparently referring to the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir.
"Today, the prime minister of India and the prime minister of Pakistan are being spoken of in the same breath. How is it after all your efforts, Mr Prime Minister, and after the efforts of our External Affairs Ministry, after all diplomatic efforts, we have been unable to diplomatically isolate Pakistan?" she said.
"How come no country has come out and openly said anything against Pakistan post the Pahalgam attacks? We have been unable to show to anybody any direct link between Pakistan and the Pahalgam attacks. Is that not a failure of intelligence on our part?" she said.
Moitra said multilateral organizations like the World Bank and the IMF are bailing out Pakistan with billions of dollars.
"We have either been completely unable to convince them, or Pakistan's just done a better job than we have," she said.
Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday left on a week-long visit to five countries, including Brazil where he will attend the BRICS meeting.
"Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order," he said in his departure statement.
During the week-long travel, the PM will visit Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia.
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Riyan Parag likely to be fined 25 percent of match fees for vaping inside dressing room
New Delhi (PTI): Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag is set to be fined 25 per cent of his match fee for bringing the game into "disrepute" after being caught vaping on camera during the IPL game against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
Parag's actions during the Royals' chase on Tuesday night drew condemnation on social media.
PTI has learned that on field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon had not reported the matter to match referee Amit Sharma right after the game. They only did that after seeing visual proof and Sharma found Parag guilty for a code of conduct breach as per the IPL guidelines.
The Level 1 offences carries 25 per cent deduction from match fees and one demerit point.
"He is set to be fined a portion of his match fees and a demerit point for a Level 1 offence," said an IPL source.
The Indian government had banned e-cigarettes back in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale and distribution. As per the law, the offender faces imprisonment up to one year and/or a Rs one lakh fine for a first time offence.
"Article 2.21 of IPL Code of Conduct is intended to cover all types of conduct that bring the game into disrepute and which is not specifically and adequately covered by the specific offences set out elsewhere in this Code of Conduct, including Article 2.20," the IPL Code of Conduct states.
"By way of example, Article 2.21 may (depending upon the seriousness and context of the breach) prohibit, without limitation, the following: (a) public acts of misconduct; (b) unruly public behaviour; and (c) inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game.
"When assessing the seriousness of the offence, the context of the particular situation, and whether it was deliberate, reckless, negligent, avoidable and/or accidental, shall be considered.
"Further, the person lodging the Report shall determine where on the range of severity the conduct lays (with the range of severity starting at conduct of a minor nature (and hence a Level 1 Offence) up to conduct of an extremely serious nature (and hence a Level 4 Offence)."
Since it is a Level 1 offence there was no need for a hearing.
Parag, who has not had the best of times with the bat this IPL, was seen inhaling an e-cigarette, also known as vaping, in the dressing room during the live broadcast of their game against Punjab Kings. Royals won the game to end Kings' unbeaten run in the tournament.
This is not the first controversy to hit the Royals this season. Earlier this month, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs one lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after being found using his phone in the dugout.
IPL and BCCI officials involved in the conduct of the IPL termed it as a careless act in the age of social media and prying TV cameras.
Royals next host Delhi Capitals at home on Friday night.
