Talks with Putin to further strengthen ties: Modi
New Delhi, May 20: Ahead of his visit to the Russian city of Sochi for an informal summit with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the talks will help further strengthen bilateral ties.
"Greetings to the friendly people of Russia. I look forward to my visit to Sochi tomorrow (Monday) and my meeting with President Putin. It is always a pleasure to meet him," Modi said in a statement prior to his departure.
"Am confident the talks with President Putin will further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia," he stated.
The Prime Minister's visit comes after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale visited Moscow earlier this month to discuss a way out of the US sanctions on Russian firms.
The sanctions against Russian oligarchs and companies, including Rosoboronexport, the state-owned Russian weapons trading company, has raised concerns in India about a possible impact on India's military buys from Moscow.
An External Affairs Ministry release said Modi's visit to Russia will be an important occasion for him and Putin to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective in order to further strengthen the special and privileged strategic partnership.
"Both leaders will discuss their respective national developmental priorities and bilateral matters," the statement said.
It said the informal summit was in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest level.
Putin is also expected to visit India later this year for the annual bilateral summit.
Russia and Japan are the only two countries with which India holds annual bilateral summits.
Modi's visit to Russia also comes just after Putin won a fourth term in office in March this year after remaining in power for almost two decades. Modi and Putin last met in Russia last year.
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.
My words misunderstood, distorted; regret any pain to women: Karnataka HM G Parameshwara
Bengaluru, Apr 8 (PTI): A day after he found himself in a controversy for his remarks over the recent molestation incident here, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said, his statement was not understood properly and it was distorted.
He also said that he would express regret if it has caused pain to anyone, especially the women.
Parameswara repeatedly asserted that he is someone who believes in the importance of providing safety and protection to women and as the Home Minister he is committed to ensure their safety, and has taken several measures in this regard.
Responding to the incident where a woman was molested while walking in Suddaguntepalya on April 3, Parameshwara on Monday had said: "Police are working continuously round-the-clock braving rain and cold. That is why there is peace in Bengaluru. In a big city like Bengaluru, incidents like this do take place here and there."
This statement had created a controversy, eliciting a strong criticism from opposition BJP and the National Commission for Women (NCW) too had sought a public apology.
"On the directions of NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, the Commission has strongly objected to the insensitive remarks made by Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on the recent Bengaluru molestation case.
Such statements trivialise crimes against women. NCW has written to the Hon'ble Governor & Hon'ble CM of Karnataka demanding a public apology from the Home Minister and urgent action to strengthen law and order," NCW said in a post on 'X'.
Clarifying his statement Parameshwara on Tuesday said, "Yesterday my statement has not been properly understood by you (media), and other platforms too have understood it differently. I'm always for women's protection.
As a Home Minister I have implemented various progrmmes like the Nirbhaya scheme. When compared to other states we have spent more Nirbhaya funds and implemented it along with the central government. I would like to share what we have done for the protection of women some day."
Speaking with reporters here, he said, "distorting some statement and speaking about me is not right. I believe and have taken several measures for the protection of women -- our sisters and mothers. If there are any issues (concerning women's safety), I have made officials in the department responsible. So my statement should not be projected by distorting it."
"I'm not saying this for those from the BJP, who are doing politics. If my statement has caused pain to anyone -- our sisters, mothers, I express regret. But there is no need to take it to different platforms by projectingit in a different way," he added.
Stating that during daily briefings by the police commissioners or during briefing from across the state, he is keeping an eye on such cases concerning safety of women, the Home Minister said, "While reviewing, I regularly instruct police to take strict action whether it is cases of harassment, POCSO cases. So there is no question of any negligence or any indifference on my part."
"I will take all the strict measures required in favour of women and their safety. This is not just for the sake of making statements," he said.
To a question on allegations that atrocities against women have increased in the state in last couple of years, Parameshwara asked,"should I give the number of cases when the BJP was in power?"
"I have already given the statistics. If they claim that nothing happened during their period, people will laugh at it," he said.
