The city of Vadodara in Gujarat, India is gearing up for the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez who is set to arrive on Sunday evening. In anticipation of his arrival, the Vadodara City Police have issued a notification stating the closure of 33 roads and diversion of traffic in the areas surrounding the airport, where Sánchez will be staying at ITC Welcomhotel. The city has been turned into a fortress with heavy VVIP movement expected, including the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Strict restrictions on road travel will be in place from the night of Sunday until the end of the events on Monday.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi faced harsh criticism from BJP leaders for his statement on the lack of representation of lower caste, OBCs, and tribals in prominent sectors. While addressing a conference, he had claimed that 90% of the population is not represented in areas such as Miss India competitions, films, and sports. This remark was met with backlash from Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who advised Gandhi to do a fact-check and reminded him of the presence of lower caste community members in prominent positions such as President and Prime Minister.
Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, chaired a meeting to assess the country's readiness for combating the contagious disease Mpox. The World Health Organization has declared Mpox as a global Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and the meeting discussed preventive measures and awareness campaigns to be taken up. Although there have been 30 reported cases in India since the WHO declaration in 2022, the current risk of a large outbreak is low.
Former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra criticized the Congress and their ally INDIA bloc for holding copies of the Constitution during Parliament proceedings. He pointed out that Sonia Gandhi, who is now the leader of Congress, was present in the PM House when the decision to impose the Emergency was taken by her mother-in-law, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He further stated that the BJP will organize programs to educate people about the truth of Emergency, and accused the Congress of misleading people with false claims about protecting the Constitution.
Manohar Lal Khattar, who was previously the Chief Minister of Haryana, has been entrusted with the important role of Minister of Housing and Urban Development and Energy in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term. With the aim of transforming India into a developed nation, Khattar has expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for his trust and has vowed to fulfill his responsibilities with utmost dedication. Before entering politics, Khattar was an RSS pracharak and is also a close friend of PM Modi.
Amjad Ayub Mirza, an activist from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make him a minister or give him some responsibility in the Indian government. Mirza, who is a strong believer in the idea of Kashmir being a part of India, has also made a video wearing a BJP turban to show his support for Modi. He hopes that this time, the long-standing issue of PoK will be resolved under Modi's leadership. Mirza's plea to be a part of Modi's team showcases his strong character and determination to contribute to the country.
After being unanimously elected as the leader by the BJP-led NDA bloc, PM Narendra Modi is expected to be sworn in on June 8 for a third consecutive term as India's prime minister. The ceremony is set to be attended by leaders from neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as reported on Wednesday by PTI. The NDA's victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with 293 seats secured Modi's reappointment to the top post.
While the mainstream media and exit polls predicted a clear victory for the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the actual results were contrary to their narrative. In this exclusive interview, political analyst Professor Apoorvanand discusses how the Opposition's solidarity and the threat to the country played a crucial role in the unexpected outcome. He also explains why the alternate voices and on-ground realities were more accurate indicators of the election results than the dominant media narrative.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu following the results of the Lok Sabha elections. However, the President has accepted his resignation and requested Modi and his Council of Ministers to continue in office until a new government is formed. This development comes after the ruling National Democratic Alliance won the majority in the elections on Tuesday and the Union Cabinet recommended the dissolution of the current Lok Sabha term.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks a decade in power, the nation looks back on his leadership characterized as bold, brazen, and swift, making use of his established brute majority in the lower house of parliament. Aspects of his decision-making style are explored with insights from Associated Press video journalist Shonal Ganguly.