Raj Thackeray Announces He will Contest This Year's Maharashtra Assembly Election

In perhaps the most significant development in Maharashtra post the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray announced today at a rally in Mumbai that he will contest this year's Assembly polls.

In fact, Raj was willing to take greater responsibility by running for the Chief Minister's seat.

The MNS chief will be the first member of the Thackeray family to contest an election. Neither Shiv Sena patriarch late Balasaheb Thackeray nor his son and current Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray have ever contest election.

The MNS, which was expected to eat into Shiv Sena's vote bank, did badly in the national election, failing to win a single seat in Maharashtra. Many of its candidates even lost deposits in the "Modi wave".

The BJP-Shiv Sena combine, on the other hand, made an emphatic comeback in Maharashtra, winning 42 of the 48 seats. Raj would hope his unexpected announcement would rejuvenate party workers whose moral was low after the rout.

Raj Thackeray broke away from the Sena in 2005 to form his own party. Since then, Uddhav and he have been fierce political opponents.

The big question now is: will Uddhav take the cue and follow suit?

Congress defends GoMs, EGoMs after Narendra Modi scraps them

New Delhi: With the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, led by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday deciding to scrap all 30 GoMs and EGoMs set up by previous UPA regime, Congress defended the ministerial groups saying they were necessitated due to the complexities of issues having inter-ministerial connotations.

Congress leader Manish Tewari, however, stopped short of criticising the decision and said it is the prerogative of every government to run the administration in the manner in which they want. “But may I respectfully point out that GoMs and EGoMs were constituted primarily because most issues these days are complex. The issues have inter-ministerial connotations and implications. Therefore by having an inter-ministerial group, empowered or otherwise, you would bring to the table in a cohesive manner expertise across different ministries,” he told a news channel.

Announcing the decision to scrap nine Empowered Groups of Ministers (EGoMs) and 21 Groups of Ministers (GoMs), the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had said this would expedite the process of decision-making and “usher in greater accountability in the system”. It said wherever the ministries face difficulties, the cabinet secretariat and the PMO will facilitate the decision-making process.

The step is aimed at reducing the levels of decision- making and streamline the system. The PMO and cabinet secretary will do the “hand-holding” and intervene whenever necessary, they said.

Any inter-ministerial dispute can be solved by the committee of secretaries, headed by the cabinet secretary, which is already in place, the sources said. On the GoMs which existed during the 10 years of Manmohan Singhgovernment, the sources said a number of them had hardly met and only a few had delivered decisions.

Congress attacks Narendra Modi for not including women's safety in 10-point agenda

Congress today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not including the issue of women's safety in the 10-point agenda announced by him. "For a PM who won elections with 'Women Safety' as a major plank -- surprisingly totally missing from the '10 Point Agenda'," AICC general secretary and communication department chairman Ajay Maken tweeted. The remarks came on a day when Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visited Badaun in Uttar Pradesh and met family members of the two gang rape victims who were found murdered. Earlier, the party had attacked Modi over his 10-point governance agenda and termed it "Ten Commandments". Congress had said the agenda was just an "extraordinary jumble" and has nothing to write home about the vision of BJP government. "We have been waiting for a vision from BJP government, we have instead been rewarded with diversion of the Ten Commandments...This 10-point agenda. "I have been taken aback by the extraordinary jumble they have inflicted upon the nation," party spokesman Shashi Tharoor had told reporters.

Narendra Modi government may set up a separate ministry dedicated to managing the Himalayan region

 First the rivers, then the mountains. Mother Ganges has her hopes high with the Narendra Modi government setting up a separate ministry altogether for cleaning India's most revered river. Next, it seems, is the turn of the Himalayas, the world's youngest mountain range that's home to a unique blend of mystique, adventure, security concerns, and of course, business opportunities.

Housing for all by 2022 govt's motto, says Venkaiah Naidu

Highlighting the priorities of his ministry, Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Poverty Alleviation Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said private sector as part of their social responsibility should go for housing for their staff.

"Employment is going to be a major challenge before the country, no government can provide employment to all through government jobs, so you need to have public private partnership, and you need to involve private sector, public sector and agencies like banks, LIC.." Naidu told reporters.

He said he wants to motivate private sector to go for housing for their staff as part of their social responsibility because "housing for all by 2022 is the motto of this government."

Describing it as "a gigantic task", he said government alone will not be able to achieve it and "... So you need to involve public private partnership, you need to involve corporate sector".  

He said he is calling a meeting for the purpose on June 2 of various stake holders.

"We want to involve the state, local bodies, private sector, public sector in this massive ambitious programme of housing for all," he said.

Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that priority should be given to problems of urban settlers, Naidu said 32 per cent of the country's population was living in towns.

"It was 17 per cent in 1951 and now it is more than 32 per cent. Going by the trend by 2050, 50 per cent of our population would migrate to towns.

"Prime Minister has told me that this is one of the big priority areas. He (PM) also said housing, drinking water, sanitation, transportation and livelihood they should be the mantras for my ministry," he stated.

Listing out the focus areas for the government and his ministry with regard to urban issues, he said "mission on smart satellite twin cities, mission on clean cities they will be our priority."

Responding to a question whether Modi has suggested that Gujarat model be implemented in other states as well in relation with Urban Development Ministry, Naidu said "better performance or experience is there in each state and they have to be repeated in other states. Gujarat is one state that has done much headway as far as urban development is concerned, we will be always looking to different states for good practices, good experiences to be replicated...."

Nisha Desai Biswal, US official headed for Delhi to build bridges with Narendra Modi

 The US is despatching Nisha Desai Biswal, its point person for South Asia, to build bridges with the new Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom it had shunned for over a decade.

Biswal, the first Indian-American Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, will be in New Delhi June 6-9, making the first visit to India by a senior State Department official since India's national elections brought Modi to power. While in New Delhi, "she will meet with a range of officials in the new Government of India to review the full scope of bilateral and regional issues," the State department announced on Friday.

“She will also meet with key strategic thinkers and business leaders" there, it said.

Biswal's travel announcement comes a day after US Secretary of State John Kerry called up the new Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to congratulate her and discuss "re-energising strategic" ties.

Kerry, according to Indian officials, "spoke about the economic agenda of the new Indian government and said the US was keen to boost bilateral trade to USD 500 billion from the current around USD 100 billion”.

Since Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party's May 16 "resounding" victory in Indian elections, US officials have voiced a keenness to engage Modi in a spirit of letting bygones be bygones.

President Barack Obama himself moved quickly to call up Modi and extend an invitation to visit Washington when it became clear that he would be the new prime minister. 

His call effectively ended the visa ban on Modi, whose US visa was revoked by the State Department in 2005 for his alleged complicity in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Obama followed up his call with a message of congratulations the day Modi was sworn in with a pledge to work closely together with him "for years to come".

"We look forward to working closely together with the new government to continue to strengthen and expand the US-India strategic partnership for years to come," the White House said.

As the two leaders "agreed in their call after the election, as the world's two largest democracies, India and the US share a deep bond and commitment to promoting economic opportunity, freedom, and security for our people and around the world", it said.

Kerry too is said to be keen to visit India at the earliest to "echo" Obama's invitation to Modi to visit Washington. 


Biswal, whose parents migrated from Dahod in Gujarat, told reporters last week that Obama saw the Indian election in a very positive light and looked forward to welcoming Modi in Washington at the earliest opportunity.

"We recognise the Indian electorate has weighed in with a resounding mandate for Prime Minister Modi and we want to work with him for advancing his goals for India as a regional and global player," she said.

"The mandate the Indian electorate put forward is one that we strongly support and we stand ready to engage and assist when the new government is ready," Biswal said.

Jayalalithaa to provide issue-based support to BJP in Rajya Sabha?

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, is likely to provide issue-based support to the BJP in the Rajya Sabha, a report said on Saturday.

Earlier, the reports had claimed that the AIADMK could join the NDA.

During her meet with Modi, Jayalalithaa will submit a list of issues concerning Tamil Nadu.

The memorandum will include long-pending issues crucial to Tamil Nadu and on which the central government needs to act, an official statement said.

This will be Jayalalithaa's first meeting with Modi after he became the PM on May 26.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister didn't attend his May 26 inauguration after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was invited to the event. 

Jayalalithaa is a bitter critic of Rajapaksa, whose regime is accused by critics of killing thousands of innocent Tamils during the final stages of the war that crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009.

According to the statement, the memorandum would highlight some issues which require the urgent attention of the central government to safeguard the interests of the state and propel it on a faster growth path.

The statement said Jayalalithaa would call on Modi at his office in South Block on June 03.

The announcement comes following Modi's various guidelines to his ministers that includes quick response to representations sent by the states and not to keep them pending for long.

Dalai Lama welcomes Chinese Foreign Minister's visit to India

Two days after China announced that it would be sending its Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India to meet the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama on Saturday welcomed the initiative taken by the Asian giant.

Expressing happiness over the Chinese government's decision to send its Foreign Minister on June 08 as special envoy to India, Dalai Lama welcomed the move and said it is a good step.

Wang Yi will meet both Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during his visit. 

This comes after Chinese Prime Minister on May 29 phoned his Indian counterpart and expressed his government's desire to establish robust partnership with New Delhi.

During the 25-minute telephonic conversation, Li conveyed Chinese government's desire to establish robust partnership with the new Indian government for further development of relations between the two nations, the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.

Modi, on his part, noted that China was always a "priority" in India's foreign policy and welcomed greater economic engagement between the two countries.

Modi also thanked Li for his earlier message of felicitations and extended an invitation through him to President Xi Jinping to pay a visit to India later this year.

Ajit Pawar & Vijaysing Mohite-Patil spotted guilty in Shikhar Rajya Bank Scam.

Ashok Chavan paid news case: EC frames five-point charges

he Election Commission (EC) today framed five specific charges against former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in the alleged 'paid news' case and furnishing of 'incorrect' election accounts case against him. 

The EC, after framing the charges, also asked the complainants in the case to furnish all their evidence "in the form of affidavits" to the poll-panel by June 4. 

The EC's full panel, comprising Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) V S Sampath and Election Commissioners H S Brahma and S N A Zaidi will hold the next hearing in the case on June 9. 

Chavan, who recently won Lok Sabha polls from Nanded constituency of Maharashtra, too has been asked to produce evidence "in rebuttal" of the evidence produced by complainants before the hearing. 

The EC had, on the directions of the Supreme Court, issued a notice to Chavan sometime back to appear before it in connection with the case of alleged expenses made by him during the 2009 polls which were categorised as "paid news". 

The apex court had, in its earlier order, given a free hand to the Commission to inquire into complaints of 'paid news' or incorrect expenses against a political leader. 

One of the charges framed by the EC in this case states that the hearing would be done to find if the alleged 'paid news' instances were "incurred or authorised by the respondent (Chavan) or by his election agent or by any other person with the consent or knowledge of the respondent or of his election agent" 

The complainants against Chavan include former Maharashtra minister Madhavrao Kinhalkar and BJP leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Kirit Somaiya.

Ajit Doval: The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

The appointment of Ajit Doval as India's fifth National Security Adviser or NSA was never in doubt once Narandra Modi swept to power and took office as Prime Minister earlier this week. (Read: Former Intelligence Bureau Chief Ajit Doval Appointed as National Security Advisor)
 
For the past nine years, Mr Doval headed the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), a think tank known to be close to the BJP but more importantly one that is doing significant work on critical issues in the realm of comprehensive national security.
 
Mr Doval, 69, a legend in the secretive world of intelligence and covert operations, retired as Director Intelligence Bureau in January 2005. 
 

After UP rape and murder, Centre to set up rape crisis cell: Maneka Gandhi

Blaming police apathy for the horrific gangrape of two teenage Dalit sisters in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh, Union Women and Child Welfare Minister Maneka Gandhi on Friday said that a "rape crisis cell" will be constituted for speedy action on such incidents.The Dalit sisters were allegedly gangraped and murdered with their bodies found hanging from a tree in Katra village. The incident triggered protests in the area with villagers alleging police laxity following which an FIR was registered against seven persons including constables Sarvesh Yadav and Rakshapal Yadav, who were suspended.
Maneka also assured that if the family members of the two girls want, she would recommend a CBI probe into the incident.
"Police laxity is equally responsible for the incident due to which two girls lost their lives. Police is still not acting in the right direction. All policemen involved in the incident should be terminated," she told PTI over phone.
"If the girls' famly members want a CBI probe, I will recommend it," she added.
The Minister said that she would soon constitute a "rape crisis cell" to ensure speedy action in such matters.
The two girls, who were cousins and aged 14 and 15, went missing from their house on the night of May 27 and their bodies were found hanging from a mango tree in a village in Ushait area the next morning.
The postmortem report of the two girls confirmed that they were raped before murder.
UP authorities on Friday sacked two constables in connection with the crime.
Of the seven wanted in the case, three have been arrested so far.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rape-crisis-cell-badaun-gangrape-maneka-gandhi-dalit-sisters-gangrape-cbi-rapes/1/364536.html

Narendra Modi Rules Out Renaming Projects Begun by UPA Government: Sources

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has wasted no time in establishing ground rules and work processes for his government, has reportedly told his ministers that there will be no renaming of projects begun by the previous regime as he bans "old-style functioning."

Sources said he is also yet to decide whether he will at all address the nation in a live telecast, as there is a view that it's an old form of interaction with the people of the country.

Sources said Mr Modi, who tweets his thoughts every day and is an avowed fan of social media, could well choose to use the Parliament session beginning next week to share his top priorities.

Mr Modi, said sources, handed a set of mantras to his ministers at his second cabinet meeting yesterday, apart from spelling out a 10-point priority agenda and asking each minister to prepare a list of issues that they will take up in the first 100 days in office, with a focus on efficiency, delivery systems and implementation.

The Prime Minister has reportedly told his ministers to focus on work content and delivery, emphasising that quality of governance is more important than spending time renaming running schemes.   

New regimes in both states and at the Centre have notoriously renamed or in cases like Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu even scrapped schemes begun by previous governments run by rival parties.

Mr Modi, who was sworn in on Monday evening, has kept his officials and ministers on their toes all week. Bureaucrats have been tasked to make presentations to him on the general health of their ministries and brief him on what they think needs to be done.

Mr Modi has prioritized an economic turnaround with a focus on policy implementation, strengthening the bureaucracy and speeding infrastructure projects. He has also prioritized education, energy and water, sources said.  

TDP Chief's wish List :Special Category Status for Seemandhra

When Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the capital tomorrow, he will carry with him a list of demands. Topping that wish list, said sources, is the fulfillment of the Centre's promise that special category status will be granted to the Seemandhra regions, which will form the residual Andhra Pradesh when the state of Telangana is born next week.

That promise was made by Mr Modi's predecessor Manmohan Singh when Parliament passed the Telangana statehood bill in February this year. (Cabinet nod to special category status to Seemandhra)

The Congress-led government had promised to accord the residual state with special category status for five years to offset losses it could suffer because of the state's bifurcation. The Seemandhra regions bitterly opposed the split and punished the Congress in general elections and state elections held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh.

Mr Naidu is set to be the chief minister of the residual Andhra Pradesh. His TDP partnered the BJP in the elections. It won a majority in the assembly election with 108 out of 175 seats. The partners have also won 17 seats in the Lok Sabha. With 16 seats, the TDP is the BJP's second largest ally in Parliament.

The BJP, while extending its support to the Telangana statehood demand in Parliament, had demanded that the special category status for Seemandhra be extended to 10 years. Telangana, India's 29th state, will come into existence on June 2. (BJP promises Seemandhra ten years of special status if elected)

Central financial assistance to special category states is configured in a manner that 90 per cent of it is deemed as grant, and the remaining 10 per cent is considered as a loan. The normal practice is to extend 30 per cent of planned assistance as grant and 70 per cent as loan for states who do not have the special category status.

Special category states also get preferential treatment from the Finance Commission in terms of devolution of central tax revenues.

News from - ndtv.com

BJP Intensifies Search For Next Party President

A day after Rajnath Singh took charge as the country's Home Minister, the BJP scaled up its efforts to select his replacement as party president.

The BJP's constitution forbids a leader from holding a dual charge, and Mr Singh, 62, is likely to resign from the party president's post next week in keeping with the rules governing organizational functioning.

Among those who are being tipped to replace Mr Singh as the BJP president are J P Nadda and Amit Shah, both of whom are party general secretaries at present. Former Rajasthan BJP president Om Mathur is also said to be in the reckoning, sources in the BJP said. 

BJP leaders have been in touch with the top brass of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or the RSS, their party's ideological mentor, discussing probable names for the next BJP president. But the final decision, sources said, is likely to be made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in consultation with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and his three senior colleagues -Suresh "Bhaiyyaji" Joshi, Suresh Soni and Dattatreya Hosbole.

Mr Nadda, 53, is a low-profile, non-controversial leader from Himachal Pradesh, who has served the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the RSS, and the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP's youth wing. He shares a good rapport with Mr Modi.

Mr Shah, who has turned 50, is one of the few BJP leaders who enjoys Mr Modi's complete trust. His stock within the party set-up went up several notches after he scripted the BJP's  stunning victory in Uttar Pradesh, where the party bagged 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. But like Mr Modi, he too hails from Gujarat, and this could work against his selection.

Mr Mathur, at 61, is the oldest among the three contenders. He was in-charge of the BJP's election campaign in Gujarat, where the party made a clean sweep. He too is said to be in Mr Modi's good books, shares an uneasy relationship with Vasundhara Raje Scindia, the chief minister of his home state, Rajasthan.

PM Narendra Modi walks through PMO, posts picture on Twitter

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday he 'took a round' of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and posted his picture with other officials.
"Took a round of the PMO on reaching south block this (Thursday) morning," Modi said in a tweet.
Dressed in yellow kurta and white churidar in the picture which he posted has an official talking to him.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-narenda-modi-walks-through-pmo-posts-picture-on-twitter/1/364209.html

PM Narendra Modi moves to Race Course Road, the official residence of the Indian prime minister.

re he shifts, something that's surprised officials who are used to incoming occupants of government homes seeking several modifications.

A PMO official said the residence, vacated by former prime minister Manmohan Singh last week, needs only a coat of paint and some cleaning of the furniture and curtains. No new furniture or decor is required. "It is ready to move in. M

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35741307.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

PM Narendra Modi moves to Race Course Road, the official residence of the Indian prime minister. According to the sources, 7 Race Course Road houses five bungalows spread over about 12 acres. 

Modi will be the first Prime Minister who will move into the official residence of the Prime Minister of India without his family. Till now all the other 14 Prime Ministers have had a family or at least have had some family members who moved in with them.  

Modi has a small team of highly efficient and loyal personal assistants. Badri, his personal cook for over 12 years is considered extremely close to him and has already visited the PM's official bungalow to check if everything is in place for his master. 

Modi's two other most trusted assistants Dinesh Singh and OP Thakur have moved to the national capital with him. According to Modi's close aides, he does not have many personal belongings. He is fond of gadgets and his laptop, tab, iPod, etc, which have been carefully packed and sent to New Delhi.

Naveen Patnaik on week-long visit to Delhi, to meet Narendra Modi

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is on a week-long visit to the national capital, is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader will also meet other Cabinet ministers during his stay in the national capital.

Patnaik will be discussing Odisha matters with the newly elected PM and his Cabinet ministers.

This is Patnaik's first trip to national capital after taking charge as Chief Minister of the state Odisha for the fourth consecutive term.

Besides, Patnaik is also scheduled to attend the BJD Parliamentary Party meeting in Delhi and meet some other politicians of other parties, sources said.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to meet 'friend' Narendra Modi on June 3

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who skipped Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony will meet the newly elected Prime Minister on June 03, reports said on Friday.

The AIADMK supremo will also meet Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and discuss Tamil Nadu matters.

The Tamil Nadu CM is expected to give a memorandum on on key issues related to the southern state.

Jayalalithaa, who is said to have good equations with Modi had raised her objection to the invitation sent by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa for Modi's swearing-in ceremony. The Tamil Nadu CM had skipped the event, which was attended by high profile dignitaries, including all SAARC leaders.

Reports say that the equations between Jayalalithaa and Modi could change if the newly-elected NDA government chooses to opt a different line than AIADMK over the contentious Tamils issue.

On May 22, AIADMK chief had dubbed as "unfortunate" the PM-designate Modi's invite to Rajapaksa, adding that the "ill-advised" move could have been avoided as it amounted to "rubbing salt into the wounds of the already deeply injured Tamil psyche."

Jashodaben is under 24X7 security cover.

Now when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has moved to Delhi from Gujarat, his wife Jashodaben is under 24X7 security cover.

A newspaper has quoted SB Trivedi, DSP Mehsana, told a daily: "Jashoda Modi's security includes four armed policemen in plainclothes and a vehicle to keep a watch on her surroundings and any suspicious movement in her village. She will be accompanied by a constable round the clock.”

Jashodaben lives with her two brothers in a small village called Ishwarwada in Mehsana district of north Gujarat. 

As per Special Protection Group rules though, the 62-year-old Jashodaben is entitled to the SPG cover, same as the PM, irrespective of the status of the ties between her and her husband.

The SPG Act, which was enacted in 1988 and amended in 1991, 1994 and 1999, provides for 'Proximate Security' to the Prime Minister and the members of his immediate family.

Any former prime ministers or members of their immediate families are also entitled to SPG security for a period of 10 years from the date on which they cease to hold office.

Those in the establishment said that a protectee may refuse security cover, but only if there was no threat perception against him or her. It was pointed out that security may be mandatorily provided in case of the slightest apprehension over the safety of a protectee.

Modi had for the first time acknowledged Jashodaben as his wife while filing his nomination papers for the Vadodara Lok Sabha seat.

Modi and Jashodaben were married in 1968 when they were both teenagers.

According to media reports, when they first met, Modi had spoken to her about his dream of serving the country and also advised her to pursue her studies. Jashodaben retired as a school teacher and now leads a quiet life.
 
News from - zeenews.india.com

NaMo Resigned from Vadodara LS seat. 

 While submitting resignation from Vadodara Loksabha Seat Namo Said "Due to people's affection got elected by historic margin. Will always remain grateful to people of Vadodara. 
I assure people of Vadodara I will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Vadodara's development scales newer heights in the years to come."

Modi PMO strengthens oversight of cabinet

Govt brings appointments of personal staff of ministers under Appointments Coordination Committee headed by PM

 The government on Thursday brought appointments of personal staff of ministers under the Appointments Coordination Committee headed by the Prime Minister in a move aimed at promoting transparency and reducing the scope of personal discretion.

The move marked a break from convention, where personal staff, including officers on special duty (OSD), were appointed at the discretion of the minister.

PM Narendra Modi's priorities and agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed his second Cabinet meeting today, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that the PM had given guidelines to all ministers to have their own timetable on the priorities in each ministry for the first 100 days. 

He also said that Modi had listed priorities of the NDA government as overall governance, efficiency and delivery system implementation, amongst other things.

“The key agenda for the our government is good governance,” he said.

He added that education, health, water, energy and roads would be the new government's focus. "Focus would also be economy and infrastructure development," he said.

As per Naidu, PM had outlined the importance of taking along all the states by the Centre.
Modi won the General Elections mainly on the plan of development and growth.

Modi's agenda: Key points

Better inter-ministerial coordination.

Restoring the confidence of bureaucrats.

Innovative ideas to be welcomed.

Transparency in government.

Focus on education, health, water, energy and roads.

E-auction to be promoted for auction and other government related work.

Stability and and sustainability in government policy.

Implementation of policy in time bound manner.

People oriented system to be put in place.

Use of technology and social media to maximise public interaction 

News from - zeenews.india.com

The newly-constituted Union Cabinet will held at 11.00 am today!

As per the Press Information Bureau, the meeting was scheduled for Wednesday evening but was postponed till today.

In the first Cabinet meeting, the Modi government had constituted a special investigative team (SIT) headed by a former Supreme Court judge to unearth black money.

A special tunnel is being made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi from 7 RCR to Safdarjung airport

As per reports, It is being said that the one-and-a-half-kilometre long tunnel will be completed in two months. Modi will become the first Indian PM to have an exclusive tunnel.

The tunnel runs through Kamal Ataturk Marg, Golf Course and Safdarjung Tomb and it will meet the ground at the helicopter hanger at Safdarjung airport. 7 RCR and Safdarjung airport is about 3 km apart.

The Central Public Works Department had begun the construction of the tunnel in 2010. It is being supervised by the Intelligence Bureau. The CPWD reportedly hired the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the project.

Apart from providing an emergency and secured passage to Modi, it is being said that the tunnel may also ensure that traffic on the road does not come to a halt by PM's movement.

Safdarjung airport serves as a conduit for flying VVIPs to Indira Gandhi International Airport when they travel out of Delhi.

News From - zeenews.india.com

Joshi meets Modi amidst speculation about his induction in govt

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sources said the meeting between the two leaders at the Prime Minister's Office lasted for about 45 minutes.

The meeting comes amidst media speculation that there could be an expansion of the cabinet soon and key ministries like Defence, which have been given as additional charge to Ministers, could have full-time incumbents.

Joshi's name has also figured as a possible candidate for Defence Ministry which Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is currently having as additional charge. Despite being a senior BJP leader, Joshi, who draws support from RSS, BJP's ideological fountainhead, has not found a place in Modi's cabinet.

Sources said Joshi has offered to work under Modi in the government, the former's role in the government is being worked out, party insiders say, adding he may also be considered for an advisory role.

news from - http://zeenews.india.com

Modi has vision for friendly cooperation with SAARC nations by Sushma Swaraj

Modi's invitation to the leaders of the eight-member bloc ceremony is indicative of the government's intent and commitment to build cordial, friendly and inclusive ties with the countries of South Asia.

"The Prime Minister has a vision for friendly cooperation with each of the SAARC countries. This invitation was the first step towards realising this vision.

"A promising beginning has been made at the start of the new government in our engagement with each of these countries," she said.

Swaraj, who is the first full-time woman External Affairs Minister of the country, pointed out that on the first day at work, Modi and she engaged with leaders of India's South Asian neighbours.

The meetings were substantive and cordial, she said in her first media statement after formally assuming charge at the External Affairs Ministry this morning.

She stressed that it was a privilege and honour to assume responsibility as the External Affairs Minister following the "historic" swearing-in ceremony on May 26.

RSS' Magic - Kashmiri Muslims call for revoking article 370, taking back PoK and CAK

RSS' Magic - Kashmiri Muslims call for revoking article 370, taking back PoK and CAK

Just hours after Narendra Modi took charge as the Prime Minister, the MoS PMO, Jitendra Singh came out with a controversial statement on the Article 370. Singh said that the government had started speaking to stakeholders to repeal the Act. “The process of repealing Article 370 has started. We are speaking to the stakeholders,” he said.Article 370 specifies that except for Defence, Foreign Affairs, Communications and ancilliary matters (matters specified in the instrument of accession), the Indian Parliament needs the State Government’s concurrence for applying all other laws. Thus the state’s residents live under a separate set of laws, including those related to citizenship, ownership of property, and fundamental rights, as compared to other Indians.

This unique status is granted to Jammu and Kashmir and similar protections exist in tribal areas of India including those in Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Nagaland.

Narendra Modi's First Speech in Parliament !

 

Narendra Modi to save 125 crore by keeping Small Cabinet

The trouble on state exchequer is liable to go down in any event by Rs125 crore in next five years as head administrator Narendra Modi kept his bureau little.
Modi chose only 45 gathering of Cabinet Ministers, while the UPA-II government had 70 Ministers, which they ascribed to ‘coalition impulses.’ The progressive appraisal of the compensations of the particular staff, their advantages and recompenses of every bureau clergyman is around Rs one crore consistently. This evaluation rejects outside voyages made by the minister throughout their residency. Interestingly, the last government in the general plan 2013-14 has reserved Rs270.05 crore for the tour costs of Union clergymen.
The distinction of 25 ministers would promptly assuage no less than 375 administration authorities, utilized as particular staff of these priests.
The assessed measure of cash spared by each one minister would associate with rs one crore consistently and in this way 25 ministers would spare Rs 25 crore consistently intensifying to Rs125 crore in five years. The breakdown of the yearly Rs one crore sparing would be more than Rs 65 lakh withdrawn as pay of 15 representatives, Rs six lakh stipends clergyman gets from the administration under distinctive provisions. Also around Rs 25 lakhs he would get as a component of the pay rates and different profits. Rest of the sum for his random costs.

Tributes to Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary

We remember & salute his tireless efforts towards the regeneration of our Motherland. Veer Savarkar is remembered as a prolific writer, thinker, poet & a social reformer. Leaving for Parliament to pay tributes to Veer Savarkar.

India's new Sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal is keen to make his ministry visible.

I want to make Sports ministry important and visible: Sarbananda Sonowal

India's new union minister of Sports, Sarbanand Sonowal, who took charge on Tuesday, declared that his priority is to make his ministry "visible" andf thus draw the attention of fellow ministers. For that, he said, will ask advise from experts and various former players of the country to discharge his duties earnestly.
Sonowal, who was greeted on the first day at Shashtri Bhavan by minitry officials, was prudent and took very few questions from media.
The minister, who is an MP from Lakhimpur contituency in Assam, said: "Today is the first day. I need your (media) support and support of the countrymen to make this ministry important and visible."
"I want the sports personalities to grow from our countryside," he continued. When asked about his priorities, the 51-year-old leader remained evasive, stating instead: "Some other day I will talk in detail about my future plan and action. I will discuss (matters) with sports experts and sports personalities of the country to carry out my functions and responsibilities effectively."
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also in Dlehi yesterday for Narendra Modi's coronation and when Sonowal was quizzed was if there is any hope of resumption of cricketing ties between the two coutries, the minsiter came up with a short and expected statement: "We are always interested to develop good relations with our neighbouring countries."
After his brief interaction with media, Sonowal met Sports Secretary Ajit M Sharan and other officials. Earlier, Sonowal was an MLA in Assam Assembly from 2001-04 before winning the Lok Sabha election from Dibrugarh. Before jumping over to BJP in 2001, he was associated with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).