'Kazan beckons but sadly Manipur still awaits': Cong's dig at PM ahead of BRICS summit
New Delhi (PTI): Ahead of the BRICS Summit in Russia, the Congress took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and said Kazan certainly beckons but sadly Manipur still awaits.
Prime Minister Modi will attend the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan this week. He will pay a two-day visit to Kazan beginning Tuesday to attend the BRICS summit following an invitation by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Congress has repeatedly urged PM Modi to visit violence-hit Manipur, stressing that it would help restore peace and normalcy there.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Tomorrow the BRICS plus Summit begins in Kazan, Russia. Like most things the non-biological PM claims credit for, there is a solid pre-2014 history to such a Summit."
It was in November 2001 that the British economist Jim O'Neill first coined the term BRIC -- Brazil, Russia, India & China -- to draw attention to a quartet that could become major economic powers of the world by 2050, he pointed out.
In September 2006, foreign ministers of these four countries met in New York to explore how they could give political weight to O'Neill's economic concept, Ramesh said.
In June 2009, the presidents of China, Brazil, Russia and the Prime Minister of India met in Russia for the first ever BRIC Summit, he said, adding that South Africa was included in the group two years later when BRIC became BRICS.
New Delhi hosted the BRICS Summit in March 2012, the Congress leader noted.
"Now BRICS includes Egypt, Iran, UAE, and Ethiopia as full members. A number of other countries are waiting to join. The New Development Bank formally launched by BRICS in July 2014 is headquartered in Shanghai," he said.
"Kazan certainly beckons but sadly Manipur still awaits," Ramesh said.
Ethnic violence in Manipur first broke out on May 3 last year after a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts of the state to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Since then, over 220 people belonging to both the Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel have been killed in the continuing violence.
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J&K CM Omar Abdullah condemns terror attack on non-local labourers in Ganderbal
Srinagar (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday condemned a terror attack on non-local labourers in Ganderbal district.
"Very sad news of a dastardly and cowardly attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. 2 have been killed and 2-3 more have been injured in this militant attack. I strongly condemn this attack on unarmed innocent people and send my condolences to their loved ones," Abdullah said in a post on X.
Two non-local labourers were killed and two injured in the attack on their camp. The labourers were working on a tunnel project in the Gund area of the district.
People's Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone also condemned the attack.
"Strongly condemn the dastardly act of terror wherein two persons have lost their lives in Sonamarg. This is an insane act of madness. My thoughts with families of these two families. May the perpetrators be brought to justice," he said in a post on X.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra expressed grave concern over the attack carried out by unidentified gunmen.
He said such incidents will vitiate the atmosphere and urged the government to take immediate measures to prevent such brutal attacks on innocent labourers.
