Saint Petersburg (Russia), July 11 (IANS) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is leading the Indian delegation at BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Russia, has hailed the grouping’s expansion and, at the same time, reiterated India’s stance of reforming the working of the United Nations and its bodies.

“BRICS represents the interests of developing countries. We are happy today that BRICS is striving to establish a more inclusive global government system,” Om Birla said in his remarks at the Plenary Session of the two-day 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum meeting which began in St Petersburg on Thursday.

At the session, titled ‘The BRICS Parliamentary dimension: Prospects for strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation’, Om Birla extended a warm welcome to the Parliaments of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to the BRICS forum.

“India believes that the inclusion of the new members will strengthen BRICS family and will provide impetus to our endeavours for a shared and better future for humanity. We believe that international organisations like the UNSC and WTO also need urgent reforms to make them inclusive in a similar manner so as to make global governance more democratic and inclusive,” he said.

The Lok Sabha Speaker also thanked Russia for supporting India’s candidature for a permanent seat in an expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

India, a founding member of the United Nations, is actively engaged in the ongoing Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) on UNSC reforms at the United Nations and has been working with other reform-oriented countries through its membership of the G-4 (India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan) and the L.69 Group (cross-regional grouping of developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America).

Emphasising the role of Parliaments in fostering transparency and accountability, Om Birla also urged for collaboration among legislatures worldwide.

The Indian delegation at the forum also includes Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Rajya Sabha MP Shambhu Sharan Patel, Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh and Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Modi, among other officials.

The forum is being held with the theme of ‘Role of Parliaments in Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security’.

The Lok Sabha Speaker is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Parliament Speakers of other countries at the sidelines of the event.

He will also present India’s stance on relevant issues and meet Indian expatriates in Moscow.

Apart from the BRICS countries, which include four new members (Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates), Speakers and Parliament members from other invited countries – including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan – and the Chairperson of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Tulia Aksen are participating in the meetings at the forum.

–IANS

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Kolkata, July 11 (IANS) Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Sanjay Seth on Thursday said that there is a need for greater efficiency to compete with other defence PSUs.

“There is a need for greater efficiency to compete with other Defence PSUs as well as private sector firms that are now manufacturing high-quality military hardware. The Defence Ministry will provide all the support to AWEIL to use its skilled, qualified and experienced workforce and collaborate with associated establishments to meet the nation’s requirements for top-quality material,” MoS Defence said during his meeting with the West Bengal & Sikkim Directorate of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) at the NCC Institute on the Maidan in Kolkata.

The MoS also visited the 220-year-old Gun and Shell Factory (GSF) in Cossipore, which is now a part of the Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd (AWEIL). AWEIL has exported material worth Rs 615 crore since corporatisation which includes medium-calibre weapons, small arms, artillery gun parts and ammunition hardware to several countries in Europe, America, the Middle East and Asia.

Maj Gen Vivek Tyagi, ADG, NCC, West Bengal & Sikkim Directorate also briefed the MoS on the achievements of the cadets and the need for training academies for them in both West Bengal and Sikkim.

MoS commended the NCC cadets for their selfless commitment towards social welfare and nation-building.

He also visited the Army’s Eastern Command headquarters at Fort William, Kolkata and was briefed on the operational and logistics aspects.

He interacted with officers and soldiers and appreciated their role while serving in inhospitable terrain, even in inclement weather.

–IANS

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Chandigarh, July 11 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Thursday demanded Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s resignation for failing “for the third time in a row” to purchase maize crop as per the minimum support price (MSP) despite promises.

He also demanded the AAP government compensate farmers for the losses suffered by them through the ‘Bhavantar’ scheme which was not being implemented in the state.

“All farmers who have sold their maize, moong, and sunflower crops at rates less than the stated MSP should be compensated immediately.”

In a statement here, the SAD President also accused the Chief Minister of duping farmers in the name of diversification, saying Mann had first encouraged farmers to grow moong, maize and sunflower and given a “guarantee” that the entire crops would be procured as per MSP. However, when the time came to procure these crops, farmers were left at the mercy of private players and suffered huge losses.

“The AAP government’s much-hyped diversification plan is also in tatters due to the manner in which the Chief Minister reneged on this promise to procure these crops,” Badal added.

He also demanded the government introduce MSP for vegetables, asserting farmers were being exploited by traders and were being forced to sell short. He called for providing insurance cover to vegetable farmers as they often faced huge losses due to inclement weather.

–IANS

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Jaipur, July 11 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Thursday said that the Rajasthan Investment Summit will be announced soon in which big industrialists from across the country and abroad will participate.

“Through this summit, investment in the state will increase and new employment opportunities will also be created. Self-employment opportunities for the youth will be given priority,” the Chief Minister said while addressing the gratitude meeting of the youth for the announcements made in the revised budget 2024-25.

He said that in the Budget, one lakh jobs have been announced for the youth this year.

“The state government will provide maximum employment opportunities to the youth in all sectors including public, private and commercial. There is no dearth of talent among the youth in the rural area, there is a need to bring that talent to the fore,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that youth are the future of the country and Rajasthan will write a new chapter of progress with the energy and enthusiasm of the youth.

“Our government is working every moment and every second to fulfil the dreams of the youth and their aspirations,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that because of the Budget, the government will be able to bring forward the talent of rural youth through announcements like Maharana Pratap Sports University, Sports College at division level and ‘Khelo Rajasthan Youth Games’.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 11 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) should be “ashamed” for issuing notice to the state government in connection with the diversion of funds meant for SC/STs.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that there is nothing wrong with using the SCSP and TSP funds for guarantee schemes.

“After Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka is the only state in the entire country that has brought a law to allocate and use separate funds for the welfare of SC/STs. If the National Commission issues a notice, it should be directed to the Central government. Our government is utilising these funds for the welfare of Scheduled Castes,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has sought a detailed report from the Karnataka government within seven days regarding the utilisation of funds meant for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste and Tribe.

Joint Secretary Rajeev Kumar Tiwari of the commission said that suo-moto cognizance has been taken by the commission following the media report on the utilisation of SC/ST funds to welfare schemes.

“The Karnataka government decided to utilise funds allocated under the Karnataka Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) for implementing five guarantee schemes,” the commission said.

It said that the government of Karnataka has taken the decision to divert Rs 14,730.53 crores from SCSP and TSP allocation to guarantee schemes.

–IANS

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