Vance, Rubio congratulate Gor on assuming charge as US envoy to India
New York/Washington (PTI): US Vice President J D Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have congratulated Sergio Gor as he took charge as the US Ambassador to India, expressing confidence that he would “do a great job” in New Delhi.
“Namaste! Today marks my first day at the US Embassy in New Delhi. I am honoured to join this dedicated team and eager to get to work advancing President Donald Trump’s priorities and deepening the US-India partnership. I couldn’t be more optimistic about the days ahead for both of our nations under President Trump’s leadership,” Gor posted on social media on Monday.
Amplifying the post, Vance said, “Congrats, Mr. Ambassador. You'll do a great job!”
Rubio echoed the sentiment, saying, “You will do a great job!”
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also welcomed Gor, calling him “a great addition to our team”.
Gor, 39, arrived in New Delhi on January 9 to take up his new role as US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia.
Addressing US Embassy personnel, he said no country is as essential as India for Washington, adding that both sides are actively engaged in firming up a trade deal.
The envoy said real friends can disagree but ultimately resolve their differences, referring to the relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump.
"India is the world's largest nation. So it's not an easy task to get this across the finish line, but we are determined to get there," Gor said.
In another social media post, he said India will be invited to join the Pax Silica, a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain.
“As the world adopts new technology, it is essential that India and the United States work hand-in-hand together,” Gor said.
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Bengal: Over 55 pc turnout till 1 pm in repoll in 15 booths of 2 assembly seats
Kolkata (PTI): Over 55 per cent turnout was recorded till 1 pm in repoll in 15 booths of two assembly constituencies in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, an official said.
Voting was underway more or less peacefully at 11 polling stations of Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency and four in Diamond Harbour, where the EC ordered repoll a day ago, following reports of electoral malpractices.
However, at booth number 179 at Chanda Primary School of Diamond Harbour seat, the Trinamool Congress alleged that a specially abled voter and his mother were harassed by central forces. The alleged incident sparked protests by party workers and locals.
The TMC claimed that the voter's mother, who had entered the booth to assist him, and her son were detained for a considerable time by central forces over alleged rule violations.
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"TMC leaders Manmohini Biswas and Pratik Ur Rahman reached the spot and led the protests, with residents terming the action unwarranted harassment. The matter has been taken care of by our officials there," an official of the poll body said.
Polling was otherwise peaceful across 15 booths in the area, he added.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, the official said, adding that till 1 pm, the turnout was 55.57 per cent.
Magrahat Paschim registered 56.33 per cent voter turnout, while in Diamond Harbour, it was 54.9 per cent, a poll official stated.
Voting in these two assembly constituencies was held in the second phase of the state elections on April 29.
The repoll order was based on reports received from returning officers and observers of the two constituencies and "material circumstances", the Election Commission official said.
In Magrahat Paschim, TMC's Md Samim Ahamed Molla is pitted against BJP nominee Goursundar Ghosh, while Abdul Majid Halder of the Congress and ISF candidate Abdul Aziz Al Hassan are also in the fray.
TMC candidate Panna Lal Halder is contesting against Dipak Kumar Halder of the BJP in the Diamond Harbour seat. Goutam Bhattacharya of the Congress and CPI(M)'s Samar Naiya are among other candidates.
The BJP had alleged rampant electoral malpractices in certain polling stations of both the assembly seats under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The EC had deputed its special observer, Subrata Gupta, to fact-check the allegations from the ground.
The poll panel will decide on repolling in the Falta assembly constituency on Saturday.
The West Bengal assembly elections were held in two phases -- April 23 and April 29 -- amid unprecedented security arrangements.
Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
