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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Political updates: India pushes for NSG membership; Ajit Jogi forms own party
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Political updates: India pushes for NSG membership; Ajit Jogi forms own party

In other news, the Indian Space Research Organisation is set for the launch of 20 satellites, weighing a combined 1,288kg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Yoga participants on the occasion of the 2nd International Day of Yoga at the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Photo: PTIPremium
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Yoga participants on the occasion of the 2nd International Day of Yoga at the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: With the International Yoga Day celebrations coming to an end across the country, all eyes are now on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tashkent on Thursday where he will meet the Chinese President Xi Jingping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on Thursday. Modi is expected to push for India’s bid to ensure its membership in the NSG by convincing China to give up its reservations.

Just a day after China said India’s application to join the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) was not on the agenda of the bloc’s plenary later this week in Seoul, Beijing on Tuesday said India’s membership was being discussed among members of the exclusive club. The change in stance is seen as a follow-up to US’s message to all NSG members to support India’s plea.

Trouble seems to have knocked on Congress’s door yet again, this time in Chhattisgarh, where former chief minister and senior leader Ajit Jogi on Tuesday formed his own political party, Chhattisgarh Janata Congress. The decision comes nearly a week after he resigned from the Congress. Earlier this month, Jogi had warned the Congress that if his grievances were not addressed, he would quit the party.

In other news, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has begun with the countdown for the launch of 20 satellites, weighing a combined 1,288kg, at 9:26am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Wednesday.

International Yoga day: How the states performed on the discipline

Along with Swachh Bharat and Jan Dhan Yojana, promoting yoga has been one of the pet projects of the Narendra Modi government. On the occasion of the second International Yoga Day, Mint looks at what the government has been doing to push yoga and how various states fare in terms of practice, infrastructure and spending on this discipline. Read here.

Is China softening its stance on India’s NSG membership bid?

China on Tuesday said “the door is open" for discussions on India’s membership to the NSG, a day after it said New Delhi’s application to join the exclusive club was not on the agenda of its plenary this week in Seoul.

“The door is open for admission of the non-NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) members. It is never closed," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

The Chinese statement came in the wake of the US strongly backing India’s membership to NSG overnight Tuesday. The White House and the US state department, in separate statements, called on NSG members to support India’s application for membership that comes up before the plenary in Seoul on 23-24 June. Read here.

Ajit Jogi launches own political party Chhattisgarh Janata Congress

In a major setback to the Congress party, former chief minister and senior leader Ajit Jogi on Tuesday formed his own political party, Chhattisgarh Janata Congress. The decision comes nearly a week after he resigned from the Congress party. The formation of a third force in Chhattisgarh, which has so far seen a straight contest between the Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the potential to affect the prospects of the Congress which is looking to return to power in the state. The assembly election is expected in January 2019. Read here.

ISRO set for record launch of 20 satellites in 26 minutes

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has begun the countdown for the launch of 20 satellites, weighing a combined 1,288kg. The satellites will be launched by the national space agency’s workhorse rocket, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34, at 9:26am on Wednesday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Read here.

Here are 10 facts about the launch.

We are for abstinence, not prohibition: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

In the just-concluded elections to the Kerala assembly, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) won with a convincing majority. Shortly thereafter, the LDF appointed Pinarayi Vijayan as the state’s chief minister. A Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo member, Vijayan spoke candidly about his relationship with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime, revisiting the Kerala model of growth and the plan to acquire land to develop roads in an interview with Mint conducted at Kerala House in New Delhi. Read excerpts here.

Making sense of Siddaramaiah

How does one make sense of the latest cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka, in which the Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah replaced close to half of his cabinet? Some analysts say Siddaramaiah’s decision to replace close to half of his cabinet is a shrewd move, while others say the move will leave Congress in worse state. Read here.

Subramanian Swamy sees India growth unchained now that Rajan is leaving

The Indian ruling party lawmaker and prime ministerial ally who pushed for the departure of central bank governor Raghuram Rajan hailed his impending exit on Tuesday, saying the country’s growth could now head towards 10%. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be “unfettered" and “start moving in a big way" with Rajan out of the picture, Swamy, who holds a doctorate in economics from Harvard University, said on Tuesday. He blamed Rajan for holding back the economy, saying, “It was almost as if he was inspired to prevent the growth story from taking off." Read here.

Crucial Anantnag bypoll to test credibility of controversial BJP-PDP alliance

“You may think, she’s already become chief minister, why do we need to vote? I don’t need your votes to become chief minister. But with each vote, you do me an honour," said Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, while addressing a small crowd in Kamad village in Anantnag assembly constituency, which goes to polls on Wednesday. The seat fell vacant after chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed died in January. For his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, fighting to keep Anantnag in the family, winning the election is about izzat (honour). Read here.

Centre to states: Link Aadhaar to caste, domicile certificates

All state governments have been asked to link Aadhaar with caste and domicile certificates to be issued to school students, as part of a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Centre. The states have been told to ensure that such certificates are issued within 60 days to the students when they are studying in Class V or VIII. The development assumes significance, as there have been complaints of delay in grant of scholarship to students belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Besides, people have often complained of harassment, allegedly by government officials, in getting caste and domicile certificates issued. Read here.

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Published: 22 Jun 2016, 10:30 AM IST
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