Consensus growing in favour of Pranab

June 16, 2012

New Delhi, June 16: Pranab Mukherjee appears to be set for Rashtrapati Bhavan as consensus was growing in sections of the NDA that, considering his political stature and popularity, he should get cross-party support.

Although, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is yet to make up its mind on supporting Mukherjee, murmurs of support for him came from its key alliance Janata Dal-United (JDU) and to some extent Shrimoni Akali Dal (SAD)

In Patna, JDU leader Shivanand Tiwari said a "graceful sendoff" should be given to the veteran politician by making him the country's 13th president. "A senior and respected leader like Pranab Mukherjee, who is going to retire (from active politics), should be given a graceful sendoff," Tiwari told reporters in Patna, adding that it was his personal view.

He also said that Mukherjee enjoys the backing of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BJP), whose support will take the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) strength in the electoral college to 47.6 percent.

JD-U chief Sharad Yadav was quick to point out that NDA will meet Sunday and decide its stand on the presidential poll. He also added that Tiwari was airing his personal view.

However, sources in the JD-U say that at the NDA meeting many party leaders will stress on support to Mukherjee. JD-U is the second largest partner in the NDA and the party shares power in Bihar with the BJP. The BJP has been saying that it will not support a Congress candidate.

The party will have to decide on whether it will back Purno Sangma, who is ready to defy his party Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) diktat and contest against Mukherjee, or go along with majority political opinion and back Pranab as a consensus candidate.

Sangma enjoys the support of two chief ministers - AIADMK's J.Jayalalitha and Biju Janata Dal's Naveen Patnaik. The BJD came out in open support of Sangma Saturday. NCP is part of UPA and had endorsed Mukherjee's candidature Friday.

"As of now there is no change in our decision on the presidential poll. BJD sticks to its support for Sangma, a prominent tribal leader. We are determined to back Sangma," senior leader and BJD parliamentary party leader Arjun Sethi told reporters in Odisha.

Sangma, who could be expelled from his party if he goes ahead against Mukherjee, is also eyeing support from the NDA. "My party will take a decision (on Sangma). He is a senior person. We will convince him to withdraw," NCP chief Sharad Pawar said. NCP is holding a meet on this matter next Thursday.

The BJP had earlier favoured A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. But in all probability, the former president will not contest, despite Mamata Banerjee insisting that her Trinamool Congress will support him.

BJD (3.3 percent) and AIADMK (2.8 percent) together make only 6.1 percent of total votes in the electoral college. If NDA backs Sangma, the total will be 33. 8 percent.

Even if Sangma decides to contest the presidential poll, Mukherjee is set to sail through with a total vote share of 48 percent on his side.

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Taliban appoints Ikramuddin Kamil as acting consul in Mumbai as India-Afghan ties improve

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November 12,2024

The Taliban regime has appointed Ikramuddin Kamil as the acting consul in the Afghan mission in Mumbai, Afghan media has reported.

It is the first such appointment made by the Taliban set up to any Afghan mission in India.

There was no immediate comment from the Indian side on the appointment that came.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has announced the appointment of Kamil as the acting consul in Mumbai, the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources.

"He is currently in Mumbai, where he is fulfilling his duties as a diplomat representing the Islamic Emirate," it said.

The appointment is part of Kabul's efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with India and enhance its presence abroad, the media outlet said

Kamil holds a PhD degree in international law and previously served as the deputy director in the department of security cooperation and border affairs in the foreign ministry, it said.

He is expected to facilitate consular services and represent the interests of Afghanistan in India, the report added.

Kamil's appointment comes days after the external affairs ministry's point-person for Afghanistan held talks with the Taliban's acting defence minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, in Kabul.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban's deputy foreign minister for political affairs, also posted on X about Kamil's appointment.

The appointment of Kamil is seen as part of efforts to facilitate consular services to the Afghan population in Mumbai.

There has been almost negligible presence of diplomatic staff at the Afghan missions in India.

Most of the diplomats appointed by the Ashraf Ghani government have already left India.

In May, Zakia Wardak, the seniormost Afghan diplomat in India, resigned from her position after reports emerged that she was caught at the Mumbai airport for allegedly trying to smuggle 25 kg of gold worth Rs 18.6 crore from Dubai.

Wardak had taken charge as the acting ambassador of Afghanistan to New Delhi late last year, after working as the Afghan consul general in Mumbai for more than two years.

She took charge of the Afghan embassy in New Delhi last November, after the mission helmed by then ambassador Farid Mamundzay announced its closure.

Mamundzay, who was an appointee of the Ghani government, had moved to the United Kingdom.

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You all can protest as much as you want, but Modi will surely amend Waqf Act: Amit Shah

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November 15,2024

Union minister Amit Shah on Friday, November 15, said PM Narendra Modi will amend the Waqf Act despite opposition from leaders like Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.

"Modi ji wants to change the Waqf Board law, but Uddhav ji, Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule are opposing it," Shah said, addressing a rally at Umarkhed in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district.

"Uddhav ji, listen carefully, you all can protest as much as you want, but Modi ji will amend the Waqf Act," he said. Shah said there are two camps in the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, one of 'Pandavas' represented by the BJP-led Mahayuti and the other of 'Kauravas' represented by Maha Vikas Aghadi.

"Uddhav Thackeray claims that his Shiv Sena is the real one. Can the real Shiv Sena go against renaming Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar? Can the real Shiv Sena go against renaming Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar? The real Shiv Sena stands with the BJP," Shah said.

"Rahul Baba used to say that his government would credit money in the accounts of the people instantly. You were unable to fulfil your promises in Himachal, Karnataka, and Telangana," he said.

Shah said the Mahayuti alliance has promised that women will get Rs 2,100 per month under the Ladki Bahin Yojana. "Kashmir is an integral part of India and no power in the world can snatch it away from us," Shah said.

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