Author: Kanishka Sharma

India is trapped in a diplomatic bind between Western countries, led by the US, and its strategic imperatives vis-à-vis Russia. The UN Security Council is scheduled to take up a draught resolution denouncing Russian aggression in the early hours of Saturday.  External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to a Russian colleague & US Secretary on call   S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, talked by phone late Thursday night with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, underlining that dialogue and diplomacy are the best approaches to resolve the Ukraine crisis. As the Russian…

India is trapped in a diplomatic bind between Western countries, led by the US, and its strategic imperatives vis-à-vis Russia. The UN Security Council is scheduled to take up a draught resolution denouncing Russian aggression in the early hours of Saturday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to a Russian colleague & US Secretary on call S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, talked by phone late Thursday night with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, underlining that dialogue and diplomacy are the best approaches to resolve the Ukraine crisis. As the Russian…

Ukraine’s Ambassador to India, Igor Polikha, said Kyiv is “very displeased” with India’s stand on Russian aggression just hours after his nation was attacked. “I don’t know how many international leaders (Russian President Vladimir) Putin would listen to, but the stature of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji makes me hopeful,” he stated while “pleading” for India’s cooperation. “I am following all the reports from your ministry,” Polikha said as events in Ukraine rapidly unfolded. “The latest advisory to your citizens in Ukraine was just not to go out, not to go to Kyiv, and the statement of your Minister of External…

Ukraine has banned all civilian aircraft in the region. What does this imply for Air India’s emergency flights? Ukraine issued a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) about 7.30 a.m. IST prohibiting any civilian aircraft to the region, citing a “possible hazard to civil aviation.” An Air India aircraft intended to evacuate Indian residents from Kyiv took off from Delhi shortly after the NOTAM was issued but will return due to the limitations. The jet entered Iranian airspace around 10.30 a.m. IST. What is the purpose of the NOTAM released by Ukrainian authorities? The NOTAM — a warning to pilots, air…

Ukraine has banned all civilian aircraft in the region. What does this imply for Air India’s emergency flights? Ukraine issued a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) about 7.30 a.m. IST prohibiting any civilian aircraft to the region, citing a “possible hazard to civil aviation.” An Air India aircraft intended to evacuate Indian residents from Kyiv took off from Delhi shortly after the NOTAM was issued but will return due to the limitations. The jet entered Iranian airspace around 10.30 a.m. IST. What is the purpose of the NOTAM released by Ukrainian authorities? The NOTAM — a warning to pilots, air…

The Punjab and Haryana High Court summoned the chief engineer of Chandigarh to appear before it on February 23 after taking suo motu notice of the disrupted electrical supply in substantial areas of Chandigarh.  The division bench of Justice Ajay Tewari and Justice Pankaj Jain asked the Chandigarh administration’s chief engineer to inform the court of the steps taken to relieve the city’s electrical problem.  “It has been brought to our attention that electricity supply to substantial areas of the city of Chandigarh has been disrupted,” the court wrote in the decision. In the circumstances, we are compelled to pursue…

Haryana has opted to form village-level committees to assist in the implementation of development projects till the state’s panchayat elections are held. On Monday, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar decided during a pre-budget meeting with officials from the rural development and Panchayati raj institutions.  “Only in conjunction with these committees can work be done in the community.” As a result, development efforts in the community will not be hampered, and public representatives’ wishes will be heeded. Along with this, Gram Sabha meetings would be held regularly.  Officers and public officials should collaborate to develop rural regions to get better…

Priyanka Gandhi, the AICC general secretary, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were “bade miyan” and “chhote miyan” and that their governance is only visible in advertisements during a roadshow to campaign for Congress candidates from Ludhiana – Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Surinder Dawar, Rakesh Pandey, and Sanjay Talwar. She further accused the BJP and AAP of using religious and sentimental feelings for political advantage. “Modiji’s administration exists solely in commercials.” In this country, there is no government. There would have been jobs and no price increase if there had been government.” She remarked that impoverished…

In their constituency, former Patiala Mayor Vishnu Sharma runs against former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Vishnu Sharma considers his development efforts to be a strength, and he plans to engage people to solicit votes and address developmental concerns. Sharma has also made the captain’s absence a point of contention for the constituency and its residents.  You’re up against a heavyweight contender. How are you persuading people to vote for you?  I’ve been doing work for the people here for quite some time. Within the constituency, people are familiar with me, and I am also familiar with them. In…

Two people were detained Monday, including a farmer union official, in connection with the alleged attack on BJP candidate Sucha Ram Ladhar from Ludhiana’s Gill seat late Sunday. This, however, triggered demonstrations, with a group of local farmers staging a dharna in front of the Sadar police station, demanding the union leader’s release.  Ladhar, a retired IAS official, was taken to the hospital after a gang of individuals reportedly assaulted his car with clubs and rods on Sunday evening, injuring him. After campaigning in his constituency’s village, Kheri, the 63-year-old, went home.  Based on Ladhar’s statement, a case was filed…