MoS Nityanand Rai calls on Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Zhaparov in Bishkek

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bishkek, June 5 (IANS) Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, in Bishkek currently to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), called on Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Zhaparov on Friday. MoS Rai met Zhaparov along with other heads of delegations attending the Meeting of Council of Ministers of Internal Affairs and Public Security of SCO member states being held under the chairmanship of Krygyzstan from June 4-6.

“Hon’ble Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai paid a courtesy call on H. E. Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic along with Heads of Delegations visiting Kyrgyz Republic for the Meeting of Council of Ministers of Internal Affairs and Public Security of SCO Member States from 4-6 June in Bishkek,” the Indian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan wrote on X.

Rai arrived in Bishkek on Thursday and was welcomed by Col. General Ulan Niyazbekov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic and Ambassador Birender Singh Yadav at Manas airport.

Kyrgyzstan holds the SCO chairmanship for 2025-2026 and President Sadyr Japarov has announced ’25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development, and Prosperity’ as the theme of its SCO presidency.

In April, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had visited Kyrgyzstan to attend the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting.

The SCO was established on June 15, 2001, with its founding members being China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In 2017, India and Pakistan joined it. In 2023, Iran became a member, followed by Belarus in 2024, bringing the total number of SCO member states to 10.

The SCO has two observer states — Afghanistan and Mongolia — and 14 dialogue partners — Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, the Maldives, Myanmar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

Last month, Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) Pavan Kapoor attended the 21st meeting of SCO’s Secretaries of Security Councils in Bishkek.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Kapoor met his Iranian counterpart, Ali Bagheri Kani, Deputy for International Affairs at Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), where the two sides exchanged views on bilateral and regional developments.

Kapoor also held discussions with Adilet Orozbekov, Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan, aimed at deepening the bilateral partnership.

–IANS

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Chandigarh, April 10 (IANS) Taking strong note of the viral video allegedly showing Punjab Minister Hardeep Mundia threatening a businessman, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Friday that it would take up the matter with the Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.

Presenting the victim businessman Malkit Singh before the media here, Union Minister of State for Railways and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu said the issue would be raised with the Governor of Punjab.

Joining Union Minister Bittu over the issue, BJP MLA from Mukerian, Jangi Lal Mahajan, demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter and called for ensuring the safety of the victim’s family.

Union Minister Bittu said what Laljit Bhullar, now former Punjab Minister, allegedly did in Amritsar is now being repeated by Minister Mundia in Mukerian.

The only difference, he said, is that while warehousing corporation official Gagandeep Randhawa had died by suicide after being harassed, Malkit Singh has chosen to fight back.

The Union Minister noted that the BJP and others raising their voice against the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government stand firmly with the businessman’s family.

He also alleged that while the state government claimed to attract foreign investment, it is simultaneously intimidating local entrepreneurs, those who build businesses and create jobs in Punjab, and extorting money from them.

Union Minister Bittu claimed that this “loot” is being routed to Delhi.

Victim and businessman Malkit Singh alleged that about a year ago, Minister Mundia got a trolley worth Rs 6.5 lakh made but did not pay for it.

When Malkit Singh demanded payment, Minister Mundia instead pressured him to give a share in his business.

Businessman Malkit Singh also claimed that under Minister Mundia’s pressure, notices have been issued against him by the Punjab State Pollution Control Board and other departments in an attempt to shut down his business.

He said his family’s life and property are under threat, alleging that gangster-linked threats are being made against them.

Malkit Singh’s brother has already been attacked, and despite filing a case, the police have not taken any action against Minister Mundia.

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Cong will amend Waqf Act as per needs, expectations of Muslims: Rashid Alvi

New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Thursday said that if the Congress returns to power, it will amend the Waqf (Amendment) Act in accordance with the needs and expectations of the Muslim community.

Speaking to IANS, Rashid Alvi said, “I have said this earlier as well — the BJP government is temporary. We will definitely return to power, and when we do, we will amend the Waqf Act as per the desires and expectations of the Muslim community. This is our commitment.”

Alvi also accused the BJP of polarising the country for political gains.

“The BJP is not just trying to polarise West Bengal; it wants to create divisions throughout the entire country. They have no agenda except to incite conflict between Hindus and Muslims. Their biggest issues seem to be triple talaq and the Waqf Act.

“Unemployment is not their concern. Inflation doesn’t bother them. The worsening economic conditions, the lack of food and medical facilities for the poor — none of this matters to them. They believe they can stay in power by dividing people on religious lines,” he said.

The Congress leader further criticised several political figures for supporting the Waqf Act out of what he called a “greed for power.”

“Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu, Ajit Singh’s son, and Ram Vilas Paswan’s son — none of them remained silent. In fact, they supported the BJP in Parliament by voting in favour of the Waqf Act. Had they abstained or stayed silent, this law would not have passed. In their pursuit of power, they chose to side with the BJP,” Alvi claimed.

He further blamed the BJP for the unrest in Murshidabad, West Bengal.

“The BJP is responsible for the situation in Murshidabad. They believe it is difficult to defeat Mamata Banerjee in Bengal. Just a few days ago, Amit Shah said that they would not object if a ‘patriotic’ party came to power in Bengal. What does that imply? That Mamata Banerjee is not patriotic? That the people voting for her are traitors? This clearly shows that they are willing to go to any extent to remove her from power,” Alvi concluded.

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Delhi: NDMC to open property tax collection offices on weekends as well

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) Looking to boost collection, New Delhi Municipal Council’s (NDMC) property tax collection counters as well as tax office will remain open on Saturdays and Sundays in March, an official said on Thursday.

The civic agency NDMC oversees about 15,600 properties in its jurisdiction, including approximately 1,600 government-owned and around 14,000 private ones.

Of these, 1,000 properties are exempt from taxation. As of mid-February 2024-25, Rs 807 crore had been collected from 9,600 taxable properties, with the tax submission deadline for the financial year set for March 31.

The NDMC aims to collect Rs 1,150 crore from property tax in 2024-25, compared to Rs 1,030 crore collected in 2023-24.

As per official records, at least 3,200 taxpayers have not paid their taxes amounting around Rs 200 crore for three consecutive years despite repeated notices. As a result, NDMC has served them reminders and show-cause notices, urging them to pay their legitimate dues immediately, or face coercive action.

Under NDMC regulations, a 30-day show cause notice is issued to 380 defaulters, followed by additional reminders. If there is no response or payment within the 30-day period, the Council may take action, such as property attachment, sealing, or account attachment.

To facilitate the taxpayers and provide sufficient opportunity to interact with the tax officers, the civic agency’s Tax Department at Headquarter Palika Kendra at Sansad Marg and three Tax Collection Counters at different location – Gole Market, R.K. Puram and Sansad Marg – shall remain open on Saturday and Sunday except any Gazetted Holiday.

These NDMC Collection Counters will also entertain payments from residents/service users/electricity and water consumers of NDMC area for their outstanding electricity and water bills and Estate Properties dues.

An official said, “All service users and citizens NDMC should avoid last hour rush and waiting by planning their property tax, electricity, water bills and estate dues’ deposition well in time.”

He said residents/tax payers/service users of the NDMC area may also make their payments through online mode,

The NDMC area constitutes the core of the city. This is the old imperial Delhi, the capital established in 1911. It includes the Government of India headquarters, government housing, private housing, the Central Business District of the city; and prominent institutional areas. The area is characterised by wide roads, parks and gardens.

An area of about 28 sq km within the overall extent of 42.74 sq km of the NDMC area, is occupied by the planned city of ‘Lutyens New Delhi’. Within this, about 22.3 sq km is designated as the Lutyens Bungalow Zone which has strict regulations to check the height of buildings and conserve the heritage character of other buildings.

–IANS

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