Union Minister Smriti Irani attends Haj and Umrah conference in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah (PTI): Union Minister for Minority Affairs Smriti Irani on Tuesday attended the inaugural session of the third Haj and Umrah Conference here and discussed with Deputy Governor of Makkah Region and Minister of Haj and Umrah the scope for further close cooperation to improve facilities and services for the Indian pilgrims.
Irani, also serving as the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, was accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.
The session provided valuable insights on the best global practices and facilitated the exchange of ideas and information which would prove useful in improving the Haj experience for Indian pilgrims, a statement from the Ministry of Minority Affairs said.
"Discussion also held with Deputy Governor of Makkah Region and Minister of Haj and Umrah, KSA, on the scope for further close cooperation to improve facilities and services for Indian pilgrims during Haj 2024," the statement said.
"Grateful for the gracious invitation extended by the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah Affairs @HajMinistry, underscoring the significance of our shared values. Had an insightful meeting with H.R.H. Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, and H.E. @tfrabiah, Minister of Haj and Umrah, KSA. Discussed enhancing facilities and services for Indian Haj pilgrims during Haj 2024," Irani said in a post on X.
Irani also travelled to Madinah city - one of Islam's holiest cities - on Monday.
India and Saudi Arabia share warm and cordial ties and the Government of India deeply appreciates the special gesture of Saudi's Ministry of Haj and Umrah in facilitating this visit of the Indian delegation to Madinah, the statement added.
On Sunday, India and Saudi Arabia signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 under which New Delhi has been allocated a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for the annual Haj pilgrimage in 2024.
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Sharad Pawar hints he may not seek another term as MP
Pune, Nov 5: Hinting at retirement from parliamentary politics, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said he will have to think about whether he should seek another Rajya Sabha term after his current tenure ends in 2026.
Speaking at a campaign rally for grand-nephew Yugendra Pawar at Supa in Baramati assembly constituency in the district, the 83-year-old leader said he has to stop at some point and make way for the new leadership.
He has won 14 elections during his political career, noted the veteran leader who first entered the Maharashtra assembly in 1967 and was made a minister in the state government five years later.
"With your support, I first went to the state assembly. I became a minister of state and (then) cabinet minister. I became chief minister four times. I worked as defence minister at the Centre. Later I worked as agriculture minister for ten years, and today I am in the Rajya Sabha," said Pawar.
Some years ago, he decided not to contest Lok Sabha elections as he wanted to give the responsibility to a new leadership, he said.
"I decided that I will not be involved in the local politics here and gave all the responsibilities to Ajit dada (nephew Ajit Pawar). For the last 25-30 years, he had all the responsibilities. For the first 30 years, I was there, later Ajit dada was there for another 25 to 30 years and now there is a need to make arrangements for a new leadership," he said.
The Nationalist Congress Party faction headed by Sharad Pawar has given ticket to Yugendra, who would be taking on his uncle and deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Baramati in the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections. Ajit Pawar split the NCP in 2023 and joined hands with the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance.
Listing his accomplishments, Sharad Pawar said some development took place when he was holdings positions of power.
"I did a lot of things. I waived farm loans of Rs 70,000 crore, worked to increase the prices of agriculture produce, facilitated agriculture exports, gave women opportunities in the armed forces while working in the defence ministry," he said.
Women were given 50 percent representation in local bodies when he was Maharashtra chief minister, Pawar noted.
He blamed nephew Ajit, the incumbent Baramati MLA, for not paying attention to the issue of water scarcity in this western Maharashtra region.
"While I was the chief (minister) of the state, I gave approval to the Janai Shirsai (water lifting) project in Baramati. The responsibility to carry out the work was given to the next leadership (Ajit Pawar). Unfortunately, he did not complete the work," Sharad Pawar claimed.
New leadership was needed for completing these incomplete works, he added.
"I can only give one assurance. I am not in power. I am in the Rajya Sabha and I got one and a half years' term left. Afterwards, I will have to take the decision as to whether to go to the Rajya Sabha again. I will not contest Lok Sabha, nor will I contest any (other) election. I have contested 14 elections so far and every time, you have made me victorious, and that is why there is a need to stop somewhere. And that is why I have started working to bring in a new leadership," he said.
This, however, does not mean he will retire from the social sphere, Sharad Pawar said.
"I will not be in power, but will continue to work for the people, work for the drought-affected regions, the marginalised segments of society," he said.
Sharad Pawar contested and won his first assembly election from Baramati in 1967, and represented the constituency till 1991 when he was made defence minister in the P V Narasimha Rao government.
Pawar, who has won Lok Sabha elections seven times during different phases of his career, was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2014. He is currently in his second term as a member of the Upper House of Parliament.
His daughter Supriya Sule is the Lok Sabha MP from Baramati since 2009.
Baramati saw a fight within the Pawar family for the first time in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar contested against Sule. The assembly constituency would now witness a contest between Ajit and his nephew.
