LIVE! Meloni closes G7 Summit citing talks with Modi

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Sat, 15 June 2024

Meloni closes G7 Summit citing talks with Modi

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20:16 Meloni closes G7 Summit citing talks with Modi

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday officially closed the G7 Summit in the Apulia region of southern Italy, with a reference to her talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which the two leaders explored opportunities to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership.

As the country holding the presidency for the Group of Seven industrialised nations, Italy hosted the leaders of participant nations -- the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Germany, France and the European Union (EU).

She also hosted representatives from 11 countries representing the Global South, including India.

Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with Meloni on Friday evening towards the end of his day-long visit to join the Outreach session and hold a series of bilaterals on the sidelines.

"With Mr Modi, we explored opportunities to strengthen our strategic partnership which began in 2022," Meloni told reporters in her concluding media briefing on Saturday.

Presenting some highlights from the G7 deliberations, Meloni pointed to the delegates' commitment to the Indo-Pacific region as a 'clear signal to China'.

"We are open to dialogue but our companies must be able to compete on an equal footing within a free and fair market," she said. -- PTI

K G Abraham, MD of Kuwait-based NBTC Group, whose workers died in the fire accident in one of its accommodations in the Gulf nation, on Saturday said the incident was unfortunate, and the company will take care of the victims' families.

Addressing the media here after three days of the tragic fire that killed 49 people, Abraham became emotional and said 'we are so sorry'.

"We are so sorry. We are so sorry. I was crying in my house. I know most of them. There were people working with us for more than 27 years. What happened was really unfortunate," he said.

Abraham said that his company directors and managers are currently visiting each and every family member of the deceased and are expressing their grief.

"This was not any mistake on our part, but still we will take responsibility. They were living and working with us. They built the company. They are our family," Abraham said.

He said discussions were going on with the Embassies for the process of disbursing the compensation.

"We will soon disperse Rs 8 lakh as compensation and they will also receive the company insurance amount. We are concerned about the families and will support them and provide jobs," he added.

Abraham also dismissed the allegations that the building was overcrowded.

He said the leased building had 24 apartments with three bedrooms each and there were only around 160 employees housed there.

"As per the reports there, the incident happened due to a short-circuit in the security guard's room on the ground floor. There was no gas explosion as some claimed. There was no cooking in the building," he said.

Abraham said the building was not that old and the accommodation and food for its employees were free.

He said as the deaths occurred due to an accident, the victims' families would receive an insurance amount worth four years' salary.

NBTC had earlier in a statement said it was greatly 'shocked and saddened by the tragic incident' in one of its residential accommodations at Mangaf in Kuwait.

The building in Kuwait that caught fire killed 49 people on June 12.

Currently, 40 people are under treatment.

Abraham, a prominent businessman from Niranam in Pathanamthitta district is a partner and managing director of the NBTC group.

According to the Central Travancore Chamber of Commerce and Industry website, NBTC is the biggest construction group in Kuwait. It also said that Abraham is the chairman of Crowne Plaza, Kochi which is a five-star category hotel.

He is the founder and chairman of KGA Group which owns the prominent five-star property in Kochi among other establishments.

Abraham is also into movie production and recently co-produced a Malayalam survival drama 'Adujeevitham' (Goat Life) which narrates the life of an Indian migrant worker in a Gulf nation.

Established in 1977, NBTC is into engineering and construction, fabrication and machining, technical services, heavy equipment leasing, logistics, hotel, and retailing.

Apart from the company's assistance, the Kerala government had announced an amount of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased persons from the state.

The Central government has also announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased. Prominent business houses have also announced financial aid to bereaved families. -- PTI

A committee formed to probe the conduct of two Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) members in connection with the bail given to the minor accused in the Pune Porsche crash case has found 'procedural lapses', 'misconduct' and 'non compliance of norms', a senior official said on Saturday.

On May 19, two IT professionals were killed in Kalyani Nagar in Pune after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche car allegedly driven by a minor in an inebriated condition.

The case caused a national uproar after the Juvenile Justice Board gave bail to the accused on very lenient terms, including writing a 300-word essay on road safety.

"The five-member committee submitted its report on Friday to the Women and Child Development department commissioner. The WCD department, after receipt of the report, has issued notices to two JJB members who were appointed by the department," the official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

"The report has found glaring lapses and mistakes while issuing the bail order by a single member of the JJB on May 19. Though the order granting bail was issued by one member, the other member gave consent the next day. Misconduct and non compliance of norms has been found on the part of the two members and they have been apprised about it," the official said.

As part of its probe, the committee appointed by the WCD department had recorded the statement of the two JJB members, he added.

The JJB comprises two members appointed by the WCD department and one member from the judiciary. The committee's mandate was to probe the two members appointed by the state government, the official pointed out.

WCD commissioner Dr Prashant Narnavare confirmed that the report had been submitted by the probe committee and said show cause notices had been issued to both JJB members.

The two members have been asked to furnish their replies in the next four to five days, he said. -- PTI

Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday said there was no question of taking back those leaders who had deserted the two parties.

The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after a rebellion by Eknath Shinde, who went on to become Maharashtra chief minister, while the Nationalist Congress Party broke into two factions after Ajit Pawar joined the state government along with eight MLAs in July last year.

Following a stellar performance by the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising the Shiv Sena-UBT, the NCP-SP and the Congress in the Lok Sabha polls in the state, there is speculation about some leaders from rival factions wanting to return.

During the first press conference of the MVA after Lok Sabha results were announced on June 4, both Thackeray and Sharad Pawar categorically said 'there is no question of taking rebel leaders back'.

In the just concluded Lok Sabha polls, Parner MLA Nilesh Lanke had switched from the Ajit Pawar faction to the one headed by Sharad Pawar and won from Ahmednagar defeating sitting BJP MP Sujay Vikhe Patil.

Similarly, Bajrang Sonawane also left the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and contested the Lok Sabha polls from Beed on an NCP-SP ticket. He defeated former state minister and senior BJP leader Pankaja Munde.

On the other hand, the BJP's tally in the state came down from 23 in the 2019 general elections to nine this time, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP had to be contend with seven and one wins, respectively.

In Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the Congress led with 13 wins, followed by nine for the Shiv Sena-UBT and eight for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP.

There is reportedly discomfort within the NCP and the Shiv Sena, allies of the ruling BJP, after the swearing in of the Narendra Modi government on June 9.

The Ajit Pawar faction was asked to make do with one berth of minister of state with independent charge, which it refused, while only Buldhana MP Prataprao Jadhav of the Shinde-led Sena was included in the Union government as minister of state (independent charge) though the party has seven MPs. -- PTI

Ten people were killed and 13 injured when a tempo traveller skidded off the road and fell into Alaknanda river on Badrinath national highway in Uttarakhand in Rudraprayag on Saturday, officials said.

Garhwal Inspector General of Police K S Nagnyal said that the victims of the accident were tourists on the way to visit Chopta.

Nagnyal said 26 people were in the vehicle and most of them were residents of Delhi.

Ten people died in the accident, the IG said. -- PTI

17:02 Will appear before CID on June 17: Yediyurappa

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader B S Yediyurappa on Saturday said he will appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 17 for inquiry in connection with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case registered against him.

On his arrival in Bengaluru, the former CM said people would teach a lesson to those 'indulging in conspiracies' against him.

The Karnataka high court on Friday restrained CID from arresting Yediyurappa in connection with the POCSO case.

It also directed the veteran BJP leader to appear before CID, which is probing the case, on June 17.

"I had gone to Delhi for a pre-scheduled programme. I had informed in advance in writing that I will appear for an inquiry on June 17. The high court has given an order restraining CID (from arresting). I'm appearing for an inquiry on Monday. Unnecessarily some tried to create confusion, I don't want to blame anyone, everyone knows the fact," Yediyurappa.

While speaking to reporters here, he said, "... people will teach a lesson to those indulging in conspiracies."

A court in Bengaluru on Thursday had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Yediyurappa in the case registered against him under the POCSO Act on March 14 this year.

The Special Investigation Team of the CID had moved the First Fast Track Court seeking an arrest warrant against him since he failed to appear for questioning on Wednesday.

According to police, Yediyurappa has been booked under the POCSO Act and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he molested her daughter during a meeting on February two this year, at his residence in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru.

Yediyurappa, who has denied the charge, said he would fight the case legally. He has filed two separate petitions in the high court, seeking anticipatory bail and quashing the FIR.

The victim's mother, who had leveled the charge against Yediyurappa, died at a private hospital in Bengaluru last month, due to lung cancer.

Earlier this week, the victim's brother had moved the court alleging that though the case was registered on March 14, no progress has been made in the investigation.

The petitioner prayed the court for a direction to the police to arrest Yediyurappa and interrogate him.

After the Sadashivanagar police registered the case in March, the Karnataka Director General of Police Alok Mohan had issued an order transferring it to the CID for further investigation.

In April, the CID collected the voice sample of Yediyurappa after summoning him to the office. -- PTI

Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said the victory of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra is the beginning and not the end, and expressed confidence that the opposition alliance will win the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

Thackeray, whose party is a constituent of the MVA, was addressing a joint press conference of the MVA members in south Mumbai, where Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar chief Sharad Pawar and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan also spoke.

The three parties also held a preliminary meeting for the state assembly polls scheduled later this year.

Thackeray said people of the state showed how hollow the myth of Bharatiya Janata Party's invincibility is.

"Lok Sabha poll victory for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is not the end, it is the beginning," the former chief minister said.

Congress leader Chavan said after the Lok Sabha poll results, change of government was imminent in Maharashtra.

Taking a swipe at the prime minister, Pawar said, "We thank PM Narendra Modi for making the political atmosphere conducive for the MVA."

In the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Congress won 13 seats, a quantum jump from the solitary seat it won in the state in 2019, while the Shiv Sena-UBT bagged nine and the NCP-SP eight.

In the seat-sharing deal for the general elections, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party had got the largest share of seats among the three parties.

Of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats, the Sena-UBT contested 21 seats, followed by the Congress at 17 and the NCP-SP at 10.

In comparison, the ruling Mahayuti could bag just 17 seats, with the BJP's seat tally coming drastically down to nine from the 23 (it won in 2019).

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won seven, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP could get just one seat. -- PTI

More than 100 packets of drugs have washed up on the shores of Kutch and Devbhumi Dwarka districts in Gujarat in the last few days, police said on Saturday.

While some packets of charas were recovered in Devbhumi Dwarka on Saturday, others were found in Kutch in the last few days, they said.

The packets containing charas were found near Gorinja village of Devbhumi Dwarka district on Saturday, Superintendent of Police (SP) Nitesh Pandey said.

"We have so far recovered more than 50 such packets, and we will continue to sweep the area," Pandey said, adding that samples from the packets have been sent for forensic examination.

Similarly, the police recovered 29 packets containing charas and methamphetamine from the coast of Kutch in the last few days, said P P Gohil, a special operations group (SOG) official of Kutch (West) police.

He said that of these packets, 20 contained charas, and nine had methamphetamine.

According to the police, smugglers dumped these packets in the sea for fear of being caught, and they got washed ashore due to favourable wind conditions.

As many as 21 packets of charas were similarly washed up in Devbhumi Dwarka on Wednesday, while 30 were found in operations in the last few days, police said.

With this, the number of packets seized in the last few days has crossed the 100 mark, they said. -- PTI

The death toll in the blast at an explosives factory in Maharashtra's Nagpur district reached eight on Saturday after another worker succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital, an official said.

Shraddha Vanraj Patil (22), who was undergoing treatment in Nagpur city, succumbed to her injuries, Dr Pinak Dande, director of Dande Hospital, told PTI.

Another injured worker, Pramod Chavare, is undergoing treatment. With this, eight workers, including six women and two men, have lost their lives due to the explosion that occurred on Thursday.

The blast occurred around 1 pm on Thursday at the factory in Dhamna village under Hingna police station limits, around 25 km from Nagpur.

Nine injured persons were admitted to two private hospitals in Nagpur.

Most of the victims were working in the factory's packaging unit when the explosion took place, according to police.

The police on Friday arrested Jay Shivshankar Khemka (49), the factory's director of the factory, and manager Sagar Deshmukh.

They were produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Hingna, who granted them cash bail of Rs 50,000 each.

A case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 304 (a) (causing the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by doing any rash or negligent act) was registered against the director and manager, police said. -- PTI

The Aam Aadmi Party MLAs have written a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil urging his intervention to solve the water crisis faced by the national capital amid the prevailing intense heatwave.

Calling the situation 'very critical', AAP's chief whip in Delhi Assembly Dilip Pandey on Saturday said the Yamuna water issue was an inter-state issue that required coordination of the Jal Shakti Ministry.

Pandey said that in the letter from the AAP MLAs, time has been sought to meet the minister for a discussion on the matter.

The AAP leader also said that instead of indulging in politics, all parties should work for a solution to resolve the water crisis and provide respite to the people of Delhi.

"The entire matter is related to intervene state coordination and without Centre's intervention no solution will come out," Pandey told a press conference.

The ruling AAP has accused the BJP ruled Haryana of stopping Delhi's share of Yamuna Water.

Delhi's Water Minister Atishi has claimed that water production in the city has gone down because of the adequate availability of raw water from Yamuna.

Pandey too accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government of indulging in politics over the issue.

He said that illegal sand mining in the river in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh was obstructing flow of water through tiny dams. -- PTI

A court in New Delhi on Saturday extended till June 22 the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar.

Kumar is accused of assaulting Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on May 13 at the chief minister's official residence.

Kumar was produced through video conferencing before the duty metropolitan magistrate, who extended the custody and directed the Delhi Police to produce him on June 22.

Earlier on Friday, the court had extended Kumar's custody by one day after noting that the investigating officer (IO) was not present.

Kumar was arrested on May 18.

He was sent to police custody for five days the same day by a magisterial court, which observed that his anticipatory bail plea had become infructuous because of his arrest.

On May 24, he was sent to four days judicial custody, following which he was again remanded in police custody for three days.

An FIR was registered against Kumar on May 16 under various Indian Penal Code provisions, including those related to criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe and attempt to commit culpable homicide. -- PTI

Eight Naxalites and one security personnel were killed in an encounter in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, police said.

Two other security personnel sustained injuries in the incident, they said.

The gunfight broke out this morning in the forest of Abhujmad when a joint team of the security personnel from four districts -- Narayanpur, Kanker, Dantewada and Kondagaon -- was out on an anti-Naxal operation, a senior police official in Raipur said.

The exchange of fire is still underway, he added.

"Eight Naxalites have been killed in the face-off so far. One jawan was martyred in the gunfight and two others suffered injuries," he added.

The operation involving the personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from four districts, the Special Task Force (STF) and the 53rd battalion of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was launched on June 12, he said.

Further details are awaited, he added. -- PTI

12:27 Kuwait fire: Bengal worker's body brought home

The mortal remains of Dwarikesh Pattanayak, who was among those killed in a devastating fire in Kuwait, were brought back to his native West Bengal and taken to his home in Paschim Medinipur district on Saturday morning.

The body of Pattanayak, who was 52 years old, was received by his family at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here early in the morning in the presence of state Fire Minister Sujit Bose.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Agnimitra Paul was also present at the airport.

"The mortal remains of Pattanayak were received at the airport and taken to his ancestral home where his family will perform the last rites," Bose said.

A pall of gloom descended upon Turka Garh village where hundreds of people waited to have a last glimpse of Pattanayak, who had left his home for Kuwait at an early age of 19 and was working as a mechanical supervisor in the West Asian country.

At least 49 foreign workers, including 45 Indians, were killed and 50 others injured in the fire at a seven-storey building in Kuwait's Mangaf on Wednesday. -- PTI

Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Wednesday described former prime minister Indira Gandhi as the 'mother of India' and late Congress Chief Minister K Karunakaran as a 'courageous administrator'.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader also called Karnuakaran and Marxist veteran E K Nayanar as his 'political gurus'.

Gopi was speaking to reporters after visiting the memorial of Karunakaran, 'Murali Mandiram' located in Punkunnam in Thrissur.

Interestingly, Suresh Gopi had won Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency by dashing the hopes of Karunakaran's son and Congress leader K Muraleedharan who finished third in a triangular contest in the April 26 polls.

Urging mediapersons not to add any political connotation to his visit to Karunakaran memorial, the BJP leader said he came here to pay his respects to his 'guru'.

He said like Nayanar and his wife Sarada Teacher, he had close relations with Karunakaran and his wife Kalyanikutty Amma also.

He had visited Nayanar's home in Kannur and renewed his relationship with his family members on June 12.

Gopi said as he viewed Indira Gandhi as 'bharathathinte mathavu' (mother of India), Karunakaran was the 'father of the Congress party in the state' for him.

He explained that describing Karunakaran as the 'father' of the Congress in Kerala was not a disrespect to the founders or co-founders of the grand old party in the southern state.

The actor-turned-politician also hailed the administrative capabilities of the Congress veteran and dubbed him as a 'courageous administrator' of his generation.

He further said though he had expressed his desire to visit the Murali Mandiram in 2019 also, the veteran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal, who recently defected to the BJP, discouraged him due to political reasons.

Later, Suresh Gopi also visited the famous Lourde Mata Church in the city and offered prayers.

He and his family's presentation of a golden crown to the idol of St Mary during his daughter's marriage was used by his political opponents to target him, alleging that it was not made of yellow metal but copper.

Gopi won the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat, opening an account for the BJP in Kerala.

Thrissur had witnessed a three-way contest for the Lok Sabha polls, with major candidates from the Congress, the BJP, and the Communist Party of India locked in a neck-and-neck battle. -- PTI

11:26 Italy's Meloni, Modi recreate 'Melodi' moment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, clicked a selfie on the sidelines of the G7 summit that concluded in Italy on Friday.

The two leaders were seen smiling as Meloni clicked a selfie with Prime Minister Modi during the G7 Outreach Summit in Apulia.

The camaraderie between the two leaders who met previously at the G20 Summit in Delhi last year and then at the COP 28 in Dubai have spawned several online memes.

In December last year, the two leaders had clicked a selfie on the the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai. While sharing the picture with PM Modi on X, Meloni had stated, "Good friends at COP28, #Melodi."

Photographs of the two leaders together have been shared widely on online platforms with the hashtags "Melodi" becoming a trending topic.

Meanwhile, Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Italian counterpart during the G7 Summit in Italy and discussed defence and security cooperation between the two countries.

"The two sides discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration. They welcomed the forthcoming visit of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and training ship ITS Vespucci to India later this year," the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official release.

Modern warfare is no longer a solely physical domain, but a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape increasingly influenced by complex data networks and advanced cyber technologies, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said on Saturday.

Addressing the Combined Graduation Parade of the 213 Officers' Course at the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Dundigal near in Hyderabad, Chaudhari also said tomorrow's conflicts cannot be fought with yesterday's mindset.

"Modern warfare is a dynamic and ever evolving landscape. It is no longer solely physical domain. It is increasingly influenced by complex data networks and advanced cyber technologies. As leaders you all need to adapt, innovate and leverage technology effectively for proving decisive in winning wars," the Air Chief Marshal said.

He further said that professionalism, aggressiveness and initiative are three

"As you embark on this extraordinary journey, let the core values of Indian Air Force-mission, integrity and excellence be your guiding beacon," he advised the cadets.

The ceremony included presentation of 'Wings' to the Flight Cadets, officers of Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and officers from friendly foreign countries who successfully completed their flying training. -- PTI

A mild earthquake of 3.0 magnitude on Richter Scale struck parts of Thrissur and Palakkad districts on Saturday, official sources said.

The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported that an earthquake of 3.0 magnitude was recorded in the region at 8.15 AM today.

Thrissur District authorities told PTI that the tremors were felt for four seconds. However, there are no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

NCS, the nodal agency of the Government of India for monitoring earthquake activity in the country, posted on X that the earthquake's epicenter was at Latitude 10.55 N and Longitude 76.05 E, with a depth of seven kms.

Meanwhile, officials said tremors were felt in Kunnamkulam, Erumappetti and Pazhanji regions and parts of Palakkad district.

Officials of state Geology department and others have gone to the regions to study the incident further. -- PTI

A one-and-a-half-year-old girl died after falling 50-feet deep into a borewell at Surajpura village in Gujarat's Amreli district, officials said on Saturday.

The victim, Aarohi, fell into the borewell at around 12.30 pm on Friday and was brought out unconscious early on Saturday after an 17-hour-long rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), following which she was declared dead, they said.

The borewell was 500 feet deep and after falling into it, the girl got trapped at a depth of around 50 feet, the NDRF said.

The baby was brought out in an unconscious state at around 5 am, it said.

After being taken out of the borewell, the child was rushed to the civil hospital, where doctors declared her dead, Amreli's fire officer H C Gadhvi said.

He said the local fire department launched a rescue operation immediately after being informed about the incident, and added that an NDRF team from Gandhinagar later joined the exercise.

An NDRF team from Gandhinagar reached the incident site at 10.20 pm on Friday and started the operation, the agency said.

The girl was provided oxygen through the 108 ambulance service team in an effort to keep her alive even though no movement was noticed in her during the early hours of the rescue operation, Gadhvi said. -- PTI

Political strategist turned activist Prashant Kishor charged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with having "touched the feet" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure his own continuance in power.

Kishor, who has been running the 'Jan Suraaj' campaign, was addressing a public meeting in Bhagalpur on Friday.

"People ask me why I am now criticising Nitish Kumar, having worked with him in the past. He was a different man back then. His conscience had not been put up for sale," said Kishor, who had managed the JD-U president's election campaign in 2015 and formally joined the party two years later.

"The leader of a state is the pride of its people. But Nitish Kumar brought shame to Bihar when he touched the feet of Modi," he alleged, referring to the NDA meeting in Delhi last week.

Kumar's JD-U won 12 seats in Lok Sabha polls to emerge as the second largest ally of the BJP, which failed to get a majority on its own.

"There is so much talk about Nitish Kumar playing a key role in Modi's return to power. But how is the Bihar CM leveraging his position? He is not using his clout to ensure benefits for the state. He is touching feet to ensure that he remains in power, with BJP support, even after 2025 assembly polls," Kishor said.

Notably, Kishor had first shot into fame in 2014 for handling the spectacularly successful Lok Sabha poll campaign of Modi. By the time he gave up political consultancy in 2021, Kishor had worked for several high-profile politicians, including Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Jagan Mohan Reddy. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday left for home after concluding his day-long visit to Italy during which he attended the G7 summit and held bilaterals with several world leaders including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron and Pope Francis.

In an address at an Outreach session of the G7 summit in Italy's Apulia region, Modi called for ending the monopoly in technology and said it must be made creative to lay the foundation of an inclusive society.

The prime minister spoke extensively on the importance of ending monopoly in technology with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence. Modi said India is among the first few countries to formulate a national strategy on artificial intelligence.

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi met US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Macron, British Prime Minister Sunak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Pope Francis and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida among others.

The meeting with Macron was Modi's first official bilateral meeting with an international leader since taking charge for his third term as Prime Minister earlier this month.

Besides India, Italy invited leaders from 11 developing countries in Africa, South America and the Indo-Pacific region to attend the G7 Summit. -- PTI

Amid the controversy over Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Indresh Kumar's remark of calling Bharatiya Janata Party arrogant which restricted it to 240 and terming INDIA bloc anti-Ram, the RSS leader clarified that the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls shows that those who opposed Lord Ram have been defeated while those who have set the goal of restoring Lord Ram's glory is in power.

RSS leader whipped up a political storm for stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was restricted to 240 seats, well below the majority mark, in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, due to its "arrogance".

"Desh ka vatavaran iss samay mein bahut spasht hai - jinhone Ram ka virodh kiya wo sab satta se baahar hain, jinhone Ram ki bhakti ka sankalp liya aaj wo satta mein hain aur teesri baar ki sarkar Narendra Modi ke netritva mein bann gayi hai. The country will make progress under his leadership - there is this trust among the people. We hope that this trust thrives (The mood of the country is very clear at present. Those who opposed Lord Ram are not in power, those who set the goal to respect Lord Ram are in power and the government has been formed for the third time under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi)," Kumar said.

When asked about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's snubbing of the central government over the unrest in Manipur, Indresh Kumar declined to comment, saying, "It is the tradition of the Sangh in this country that one should not comment on the remarks of the Honourable Sarsanghchalak."

Hitting back at the opposition over the backlash over his controversial statement, Kumar pointed out that both Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal made poll predictions.

"Rahul had earlier stated that Narendra Modi will not be the Prime Minister after June 4 (Lok Sabha election results day). Kejriwal had said that the INDIA bloc will win specific number of seats. These are their announcements in their own political style...," the RSS leader said.

Kumar asserted that the country has moved forward from such claims and wants to see themselves associated with the new BJP leadership.

"I would only like to say that the country has moved forward from all these. They have set their new target and want to see themselves associated with the new leadership. The Lord has given the opportunity to PM Narendra Modi, BJP and the NDA to take the nation forward in full speed," he said.

In reaction to Congress leader Pawan Khera's rebuke that the RSS is not taken seriously even by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kumar said, "All of us have our own opinions." -- ANI

01:08 Modi holds separate talks with Biden, Trudeau

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a brief conversation with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau against the backdrop of severe strain in India-Canada ties over the case relating to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.

On the margins of the G7 summit in Italy's Apulia region, Modi also had a separate interaction with US President Joe Biden.

The Modi-Biden conversation came nearly seven months after Washington's allegations of an Indian link to a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York.

India has already appointed a high-level probe team to investigate the allegations.

After his exchanges with Biden, Modi said India and the US will keep working together to further global good.

'It's always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good,' the prime minister said.

On his interaction with Trudeau, Modi posted on 'X': 'Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit.'

Both Modi and Trudeau were seen warmly greeting each other during the encounter. It is not immediately known what transpired between Modi and Trudeau.

The ties between the two countries came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar in British Columbia.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as 'absurd' and 'motivated'.

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday said India's main issue with Canada continues to be the political space that Ottawa provides to anti-India elements which advocate extremism and violence.

India has repeatedly conveyed its 'deep concerns' to Canada and New Delhi expects Ottawa to take strong action against those elements, he said.

Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia in Surrey on June 18 last year. The murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). -- PTI

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