Let UT Khader get important portfolio
Mangaluru, May 21: The demand for deputy chief minister’s position to North Karnataka in the JDS-Congress combine is becoming stronger. This demand is justifiable. If the North Karnataka needs equal share in the development, it should get the post of deputy chief minister.
In the same way, Coastal Karnataka is also important place for the Congress. Interestingly, the Congress has only three MLAs from the entire Coastal Karnataka and out of 13 constituencies in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, the Congress has got only one seat. In the last Assembly election, the Congress had 10 MLAs, but this time it has reduced to one.
It is said that Hindutva and Modi wave has worked behind this result. If it is true, UT Khader is the only person who swam against these two waves to become MLA. With this, Khader has saved the face of the Congress in the Coastal area.
Facing all challenges, Khader has won for the fourth time in a row. For this, the Congress has to encourage him. In order to induce confidence among party workers, Khader should be given an important portfolio. In the last government, Khader has drawn the attention of the entire state through his work and efficiency as the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies department. He is able to handle any portfolio if given.
His plus point is that he takes people of all religions together. Even in the election, he has taken people from all communities into confidence due to which, he was supported by all sections of people. For this reason, he should be given an important portfolio as the party would require him more.
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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.
