Bengaluru: Govt using Belagavi Session for its own agenda, says R. Ashoka
_vb_94.jpeg)
Bengaluru: The state government is holding the Belagavi legislature session only for its own political convenience and not for public interest, alleged Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, R. Ashoka. He said the session is unlikely to run for more than eight days.
Ashoka was speaking after a coordination meeting of BJP and JD(S) legislators held at a private hotel on Friday. He said the ruling Congress is trying to push through its bills under the cover of the Belagavi session. “If the agenda is centred on Bengaluru issues, what is the point of conducting the session in North Karnataka?” he asked.
He recalled that during the previous terms of H.D. Kumaraswamy and B.S. Yediyurappa, the Belagavi session was held with the intention of discussing regional problems and pushing for the construction of Suvarna Soudha. “Let the session run for 20 days if they are serious. Discuss the issues of North Karnataka,” he urged.
Ashoka said BJP and JD(S), as NDA partners, have been working together effectively inside both Houses. He pointed to the MUDA land allocation controversy, the Valmiki Corporation issue, the cricket stadium tragedy, and other scandals in which opposition members had jointly raised their voice.
He accused the Congress government of straying from its promises and turning into a “60 percent commission government”. He further alleged that Karnataka has become an ATM for the Congress high command. “We will fight against this,” Ashoka said.
He added that 10 to 12 issues related to the upcoming session were discussed in the coordination meeting. “Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy attended the meeting and guided us. State BJP president Vijayendra also called and shared his suggestions,” he said.
Speaking at the meeting, H.D. Kumaraswamy said the first priority of the Belagavi session should be addressing the problems of North Karnataka. He criticised the government for delaying its response to recent flood-related damage in districts like Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Belagavi and Raichur.
He also said discussions were held on working together during upcoming local body elections
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Russian military hardware, spare parts for Indian military to be manufactured in India
New Delhi (PTI): Russia agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of military hardware and spare parts for maintenance of Russian-origin arms and defence equipment.
Ways to bolster overall bilateral defence cooperation figured prominently during summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
It has been a long-standing grievance of armed forces that the supply of critical spares and equipment from Russia takes a long time, affecting the maintenance of military systems procured from that country.
"Both sides agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates and other products for maintenance of Russian origin arms and defence equipment under Make-in-India programme through transfer of technology," a joint statement said.
ALSO READ: India, Russia explore cooperation on small modular reactors, floating nuclear power plants
It said both sides also agreed to set up joint ventures for meeting the needs of the Indian armed forces as well as subsequent export to mutually friendly third countries.
The joint statement said the India-Russia defence partnership is being reoriented to take up joint co-development and co-production of advanced defence technology and systems.
In their meeting on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov resolved to expand bilateral defence cooperation.
In the meeting, the Indian side showed keen interest in procurement of additional batches of S-400 missile systems from Moscow to bolster its combat prowess.
In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Three squadrons have already been delivered.
The S-400 systems played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor. India may also look at procuring the S-500 missile systems from Russia.
In the Modi-Putin talks, the two sides also agreed to continue jointly developing systems of bilateral trade settlements through the use of national currencies.
Additionally, the two sides agreed to continue their consultations on enabling the interoperability of the national payment systems, financial messaging systems, as well as central bank digital currency platforms.
Modi and Putin appreciated the ongoing intensification of the joint work on a free trade agreement on goods between India and the Eurasian Economic Union, covering sectors of mutual interest, the joint statement said.
They also directed both sides to intensify efforts in negotiations on a mutually beneficial agreement on the promotion and protection of investment, it said.
India and Russia also welcomed steps to ensure long-term supply of fertilisers to India and discussed the potential establishment of joint ventures in this area.
