No difference of opinion with DK Shivakumar, says CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Seeking to put an end to the raging leadership row involving them, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar on Saturday put up a united front, asserting there were no differences between them and that they would be united in the future as well.
At a joint press conference addressed by the two leaders after Shivakumar met Siddaramaiah for a breakfast meeting at the former's Cauvery residence, the Congress seniors said they will abide by the party high command's decision.
The breakfast meet was convened by the CM at the behest of the Congress high command to end the logjam over the issue bothering the 2.5 year old Congress government, with the opposition BJP warning of moving a no confidence motion should the power tussle between the CM and his deputy continue.
Addressing the press conference, Siddaramaiah said, "I had a breakfast meeting with Shivakumar because some unwanted confusion was created. It was created by the media."
"We don't have differences. Even today there are no differences, there won't be any in future as well. I will ensure that from now on it does not exist," he said.
On his part, Shivakumar said people had supported the Congress party and brought it to power. Hence, the Congress has to live up to their expectations.
Dismissing differences with the CM, Shivakumar said, "we don't have factionalism."
"We will go together, take everyone along and abide by the party high command."
Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president, said that he discussed the strategy for the 2028 assembly polls to tackle opposition parties and also the ways to deal with the no confidence motion if the BJP moves it in the upcoming winter session of Karnataka legislative in Belagavi.
He also made it clear that the party would fight the 2028 assembly polls under the leadership of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
"The party is in a very difficult stage in the country we still have the confidence that Karnataka will play a major role (in its revival). And we will repeat in 2028," the 2023 poll victory, he added.
Earlier, in a social media post after the breakfast meet, Shivakumar said the two leaders had productive discussion.
"Met Hon’ble CM Shri @siddaramaiah avaru at Cauvery Residence this morning for a breakfast meeting. A productive discussion on Karnataka’s priorities and the road ahead," he said.
All eyes were on the outcome of the meeting.
While Siddaramaiah has been asserting that he has got a mandate to remain as the chief minister for a full five-year term, Shivakumar has indicated that he was promised that he will be elevated after two-and-half years on a rotational basis.
The issue of change of leadership had been going on for the past two months but intensified after November 20 when the Congress government completed 2.5 years.
The Congress high command on Friday intervened and asked the two leaders to resolve the issue by talking to each other.
Accordingly, Siddaramaiah had invited his deputy to come home for a breakfast meeting.
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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.
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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.
