Asking MP farmers to sign surety bond a preventive step: Minister
Shivpuri, May 29: In the backdrop of violence by some anti-social elements during the farmers' agitation in Mandsaur last year, a Union Minister on Tuesday justified as a precautionary step the move to get surety bonds signed by the farmers ahead of their proposed agitation from June 1 to 10.
Talking to media persons here, Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar said: "Asking the farmers in Mandsaur to sign surety bonds is a precautionary step as anti-social elements had played havoc with law and order during their previous agitation."
Mandsaur being a sensitive area, the government would not like to see a repeat of what happened last year, Tomar said.
"There is no anti-establishment wave in Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is popular because of his good work, and the coming Assembly polls will once again see the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returning to power in the state on its own," he said.
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.
West Asia crisis: Jaishankar holds 4th phone call with Iranian counterpart in 2 weeks
New Delhi (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi – their fourth such conversation since the West Asia crisis erupted – as New Delhi intensifies efforts to secure safe passage for over two dozen Indian-flagged merchant vessels currently stationed on either side of the Strait of Hormuz.
The two foreign ministers held the phone conversation on Thursday night.
Jaishankar and Araghchi spoke on February 28, soon after the US and Israel launched the attack on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They also spoke on March 5 and March 10.
"Had another conversation with Iranian FM @araghchi yesterday night. Discussed bilateral matters as also BRICS related issues," the external affairs minister said on social media.
The latest phone conversation came as India ramped up efforts to secure safe passage to the Indian-flagged merchant vessels through the strategic shipping route of Strait of Hormuz that has been partially blocked by Tehran following an escalation in its conflict with the US and Israel.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).
An Iranian readout said Araghchi briefed his Indian counterpart on the latest situation "resulting from the aggressions and crimes" committed by the US and Israel against Iran and its consequences on the stability and security of the region and the world.
It said the Iranian foreign minister emphasised to Jaishankar Tehran's firm will to exercise the "legitimate right to self-defence".
"Araghchi emphasised the need for international and regional forums and organisations to condemn military aggression against Iran," the readout said.
"Referring to the importance of the role and position of BRICS as a forum for developing multilateral cooperation, he considered it essential for this institution to play a constructive role at the current juncture to support stability and security in the region and the world," it added.
It said Araghchi emphasised the importance of finding a way to strengthen stability and a sustainable security environment in the region and called it a "collective need".
At an inter-ministerial media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has conveyed to all sides to adopt the path of diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the conflict as soon as possible.
We are also talking to BRICS member states so that a consensus evolves on this issue, he said.
