Need to support Modi govt against Trump's pressure tactics in national interest: Sharad Pawar
Nagpur, Aug 9 (PTI): NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday called for supporting the Central government against the "pressure tactics" by US President Donald Trump amid tariff tensions in the national interest.
"The imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods is a pressure tactic. We, the people of India, should support the government to protect the interests of the country," Pawar said while addressing a press conference in Nagpur.
The former Union minister said he doesn't want to speculate whether the Modi government's foreign policy had failed.
"We saw the work style of Trump in his first term as US president earlier. I feel no one has control over him. He speaks impulsively whatever comes to his heart," he said.
Pawar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not ignore the signs of a growing chasm between India and neighbouring countries.
"We also cannot ignore our approach towards our neighbouring countries. Today, Pakistan is against us, while countries including Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives are not happy with us.
"Our neighbours are moving away from us. I feel Modi saheb shouldn't ignore this aspect and should concentrate on improving the ties," he said.
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Women BJP MLAs protest against opposition in UP assembly premises
Lucknow (PTI): Women BJP MLAs held a protest in the Vidhan Bhawan complex before the one-day special session of Uttar Pradesh assembly, slamming the opposition for defeating the passage of a bill, which would have led to implementation of the Women's Reservation Law, in the Lok Sabha.
This followed another demonstration by Samajwadi Party MLAs, who alleged that the BJP was misleading public in the name of women's reservation.
The women BJP legislators assembled in front of Chaudhary Charan Singh's statue in the assembly premises, holding banners inscribed with the slogan "Insult to Matrushakti (women's power), India will not tolerate it". The protesting members entered the main hall of Vidhan Bhawan carrying the banners.
Participating in the protest, the state Minister for Women Welfare and Child Development, Baby Rani Maurya, told reporters that all opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, had opposed the women's reservation, a stance for which they would have to pay a heavy political price.
"On this issue, all of us women stand united. We will ensure that we secure our reservation," she said.
BJP MLA Ketki Singh remarked that their protest represents the collective outrage of millions of women across the state.
Singh asserted that the opposition has betrayed women by creating hurdles in the path of women's reservation. The current demonstration is merely the beginning, and very soon, women from every street, intersection and household will join the protest movement, she said.
Minister Vijaylakshmi Gautam said, "We strongly condemn the despicable act committed by the Samajwadi Party and the Congress in an attempt to hold back 'half the population' (women). Their action was directed against the very bill that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had introduced to empower and strengthen Nari Shakti (women's power), and which he strived to pass expeditiously."
Uttar Pradesh assembly is holding a one-day special session on Thursday. During the session, the government is set to move a censure motion against the opposition parties over their failure to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill, which would have led to implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, in the Lok Sabha.
