Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas congratulates Modi over election victory
Ramallah: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his party's victory in the parliamentary elections, conveying his "sincere felicitations" and "wishing success".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday led his Bharatiya Janata Party to a super-sized victory for a second term in office, winning an absolute majority and on course to touch the 300-seat mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
In a message addressed to Modi, President Abbas "wished him success in his mission of serving his country and people".
Abbas also expressed appreciation for "India's unwavering support to our people and legitimate rights in self-determination and establishing the independent state of Palestine" in his congratulatory message.
Modi had visited Ramallah, the headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority, in February 2018 and announced several projects for the Palestinians with India's assistance.
The two sides signed six agreements worth around USD50 million, including setting up of a USD30 million super speciality hospital in Beit Sahur.
Abbas had during Modi's visit sought India's role in achieving a "just and desired peace" with Israel in accordance with the two-state solution.
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BJP slams move to make CM Siddaramaiah as RDPR varsity chancellor replacing Guv
Bengaluru (PTI): Opposition BJP on Friday condemned the government's move to make the chief minister the chancellor of the Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) University replacing the governor, terming it as an attempt to pollute the higher education system.
State BJP president B Y Vijayendra said this attempt to cut down on the powers of the governor is a conspiracy to upset the constitutional system.
The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved a bill, according to which the chief minister will be appointed as the chancellor, replacing the governor at the RDPR University in Gadag.
The governor is the chancellor for all public universities in Karnataka.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot currently holds the post.
"With a good intention that politics should not mix in education and as per the intent of the constitution, the Governor who is also the constitutional head of the state is the chancellor of the universities. But the government led by Siddaramaiah (CM), which is engaged in a series of corruption, by abusing its existing powers, is trying to pollute the higher education system," Vijayendra posted on 'X'.
He said the government's move will allow "unnecessary political interference" in the field of rural development studies.
"The Congress government, which has been impatient towards the governor since the beginning, sees him as an enemy to cut down on the powers, and it is a conspiracy to upset the constitutional system. This move of the state government is highly condemnable," he added.
Earlier in September, the cabinet, at a meeting held in Kalaburagi, decided to divest the governor of the power to appoint the vice-chancellor of RDPR University.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil on Thursday defended the government's move and said, "It will make the university more active and quick decisions will be taken...this system is there in many states, including Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh."
