Would be very happy to visit Pak: Singh tells Zardari

April 8, 2012

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New Delhi, April 8: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said he had "very constructive and friendly exchange of views" on all bilateral issues with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and was "very satisfied" with the outcome of the talks. He also said he would visit Pakistan "on a mutually convenient date"

"President Zardari and I have had a very constructive and friendly exchange of views on all bilateral issues, which affect relations between India and Pakistan," he said after 40 minutes of talks ahead of his luncheon with Zardari at his 7, Race Course Road residence.

"President Zardari is on a private visit and I have taken advantage this visit to discuss all the bilateral issues. And I am very satisfied with the outcome of this visit," Manmohan Singh said.

He said Zardari has invited him to Pakistan. "I would be very happy to visit Pakistan on a mutually convenient date."

The last time a visit was broached, during Manmohan Singh's meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul March 27, the prime minister had said he would do so only if something "solid" was achievable.

Manmohan Singh said the two sides had a common desire to normalise relations.

"The relations between India and Pakistan should become normal that's our common desire. We have a number of issues and we are willing to find a practical, pragmatic solution to all those issues, and that's the message that President Zardari and I would wish to convey," he added.

Zardari termed the talks as "very fruitful".

"We will like to have better relations with India. We have spoken about every issue we could have," he said after the talks.

As the two leaders spoke, Zardari's son Bilawal, the chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, stood behind them. While Zardari wore a dark suit, Manmohan Singh was dressed in his usual kurta-churidar and a grey Nehru jacket. Bilawal wore a black Pathani suit.

Zardari landed in Delhi around noon. He is accompanied by a delegation that includes Interior Minister Rehman Malik and other officials.

After lunch with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Zardari will fly to Jaipur in a special aircraft from where he will leave for Ajmer to offer prayers at the Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.

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News Network
February 20,2025

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New Delhi: Ten years ago, the BJP's Vijender Gupta was forcibly removed from the Delhi Assembly amid controversy over derogatory remarks made by a party colleague, OP Sharma, against then-AAP MLA Alka Lamba. Dramatic scenes from the Assembly showed Mr. Gupta, dressed in pristine white kurta-pyjama, being lifted, shouting and twisting, by several marshals. The BJP leader even clung to furniture, resisting all the way out.

Today, Mr. Gupta returns as the Speaker of the same Assembly, after the BJP achieved a remarkable victory in the 2025 Delhi election. He retained the Rohini seat he has held since 2015.

"I am thankful to the party for giving me this responsibility... to be Speaker of the Delhi Assembly. I will fulfill my responsibility. I hope we will have healthy discussions in the House," he told news agency PTI.

Mr. Gupta was previously the Leader of Opposition. Sources earlier mentioned he was even considered for the Chief Minister's post, a role that ultimately went to Rekha Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh. Rekha Gupta becomes the fourth BJP Chief Minister of Delhi and the second woman from the party to hold that position.

What Happened In 2015?

On November 30, 2015, chaos ensued in the Delhi Assembly as AAP and BJP MLAs clashed over the alleged derogatory remarks. Ram Niwas Goel, then the Speaker, ordered Vijender Gupta to leave the House till 4 pm. When he refused, marshals were called in. Mr. Gupta resisted and tried to hold onto the bench, but the staff ultimately evicted him.

Before his eviction, Mr. Gupta accused the Speaker of being biased towards the AAP, then in power, claiming that three BJP legislators had been abused and assaulted by ruling party MLAs. "But no action has been taken against them," he alleged.

The AAP has yet to comment on Vijender Gupta's nomination.

Rekha Gupta's Big Day

Ms. Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, said she had no expectations when she left her home Wednesday evening to attend a legislators' meeting. It was widely anticipated that her colleague, two-time former Lok Sabha MP Parvesh Verma, who defeated AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for the New Delhi seat, would get the job.

However, the BJP delivered a surprising decision. "When I left home, I did not know that I would become the Chief Minister," Ms. Gupta said, adding that it was Mr. Verma who proposed her name.

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News Network
February 11,2025

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Addressing the AI Action Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that AI is writing the code for humanity in this century.

"I am grateful to my friend President Macron for hosting this summit and for inviting me to co-chair it. AI is already reshaping our economy, security and even our society. AI is writing the code for humanity in this century...," PM Modi said.

Giving a simple experiment, he said, "If you upload your medical report to an AI app, it can explain in simple language, free of any jargon what it means for your health. But if you ask the same app to draw an image of someone writing with their left hand, the app will most likely draw someone writing with their right hand...".

He also stressed on the need for open source systems that enhance transparency.

"Governance is also about ensuring access to all, especially in the Global South. It is where the capabilities are most lacking be it power, talent, or data for the financial resources. AI can help transform millions of lives by improving health, education, agriculture and so much more. It can help create a world in which the journey to sustainable development goals becomes easier and faster. To do this, we must pull together resources and talent. We must develop open-source systems that enhance trust and transparency. We must build quality data sets free from biases...," the Prime Minister said.

Highlighting AI's potential to shape humanity's future at Paris summit, PM Modi said, "We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity." 

Hailing India's digital revolution, PM Modi said, "India has successfully built a digital public infrastructure for over 1.4 billion people at a very low cost. It is built around an open and accessible network. It has regulations and a wide range of applications to modernise our economy, reform governance and transform the lives of our people...Today, India leads in AI adoption and techno-legal solutions on data privacy...We have one of the world's largest AI talent pools."

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