Putin meets Slovak PM Robert Fico; discuss transit of Russian gas

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Moscow, Dec 23 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was on a working visit in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The meeting was planned several days ago, and the two leaders held talks in a one-on-one meeting, Peskov said during an interview with Pavel Zarubin, a journalist of Russia’s state TV and radio company VGTRK, on Sunday, adding that the two sides were expected to discuss international issues and the transit of Russian gas, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, according to Fico, the meeting was a reaction to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said Thursday at a European Union summit in Brussels that he was against any transit of gas through Ukraine to Slovakia.

Putin confirmed Russia’s readiness to continue supplying gas to the West and to Slovakia, the Slovak prime minister said, adding that it is practically impossible after January 1, 2025, when the current contract expires, given the attitude of Zelensky.

Top EU officials were informed about the trip and its purpose on Friday, Fico said.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has confirmed that his country will halt the transit of Russian gas through its territory starting January 1, 2025.

The resumption of gas transit would be only possible at the request of the European Commission and if Ukraine transports non-Russian gas, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported on Friday, citing Shmyhal.

Notably, Ukraine used to be a key transit route for Russian gas supplies to Europe.

Slovakia is dependent on gas passing through Ukraine and Fico has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for refusing to extend the contract, which expires at the end of the year. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, shown in a video posted on Zarubin’s account on the Telegram messaging app, said the discussions were sure to focus on gas transit and the current international situation.

The Slovak government office could not be immediately reached for comment and did not immediately reply to emailed questions. Ukraine has repeatedly said it would not extend the transit deal with Russia nearly 34 months into a war between the neighbours.

Slovakia, which has a long-term contract with Russian giant Gazprom, has been trying to keep receiving gas through Ukraine, saying buying elsewhere would cost it 220 million euros ($229 million) more in transit expenses.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv will not extend its five-year gas transportation deal with Russia, which expires at the end of 2024. The move has raised concern for Slovakia, which has a long-term contract with Russian energy giant Gazprom.

–IANS

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Delhi govt imposes ban on firecrackers from January 1

New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) The Delhi government, on Thursday, announced a complete ban on all types of firecrackers in the national capital with immediate effect throughout the year, starting from January 1, 2025.

According to a government order issued in this regard, the sale, storage, and use of firecrackers will be completely banned.

During the hearing on Thursday, the Delhi government informed the apex court about the complete ban on firecrackers amid the increasing air pollution in the city.

The Delhi government’s order states that under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, instructions have been given to impose a permanent ban on the manufacturing, storage, sale, and bursting of all types of firecrackers in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

“There is severe air pollution in Delhi, especially during the winter season and the levels of pollutants such as particulate matter concentrations (PM 2.5 and PM 10) far exceed the prescribed standards for air quality. The entire Union Territory of Delhi has been declared as an Air Pollution Control Area under Sub-section (1) of Section 19 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,” the order further added.

It said that in view of the alarming situation, burning firecrackers increases air pollution during the festive season. Therefore, the Delhi government has imposed a complete ban on the sale and bursting of all types of fireworks in the NCT of Delhi from 2020 under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Given the past incidents of deterioration in air quality during the months of October to January, there is a ban on manufacturing, storage, and sale of all types of firecrackers in the National Capital Region of Delhi during the coming years; the scope of the directions has been extended to impose a complete ban on (including distribution through online marketing platforms) and bursting of firecrackers.

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Some aspire to become leaders of Hindus: RSS chief on rising temple-mosque disputes

Pune, Dec 20 (IANS) RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat voiced concern over the resurgence of temple-mosque disputes across the nation, slamming individuals who exploit such issues to project themselves as “leaders of Hindus.”

Speaking at a lecture series on the theme ‘Vishwaguru Bharat’, Bhagwat emphasised that India should set an example of peaceful coexistence among people of diverse faiths and ideologies.

His remarks came in the context of recent controversies surrounding places of worship and calls for mosque surveys to investigate claims of underlying temple structures, including the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan and Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district.

On December 12, the Supreme Court issued a directive prohibiting courts across the country from entertaining fresh cases or approving mosque surveys to verify such claims.

Bhagwat urged citizens to learn from historical mistakes and work towards making India a global “role model of inclusivity.” He underscored the need to avoid rekindling such disputes, which he said only disrupt the nation’s unity.

Referring to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Bhagwat acknowledged its significance as a matter of faith for Hindus but cautioned against using hatred to raise issues around other religious sites.

“The Ram Temple was about faith, and Hindus wanted it built. But raising disputes about new sites out of hate is unacceptable,” he said. “Some people think they can become leaders of Hindus by creating new controversies. How is this allowed?”

He further condemned acts of extremism and religious intolerance, asserting that such behaviour is against India’s cultural ethos. “Forcefulness and disrespect toward other religions are not part of our culture,” Bhagwat stated.

Stressing equality, he added, “Who is a minority, and who is a majority? Everyone is equal here. The tradition of this nation allows everyone to follow their own faith. The only condition is to live in harmony and by the law.”

Bhagwat also called for a collective effort to uphold India’s tradition of inclusivity and unity, warning against divisive narratives that undermine the country’s progress.

–IANS

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Siddaramaiah govt defends police action on Panchamasali Lingayat protesters

Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 12 (IANS) The Karnataka Congress government, on Thursday, defended the police action against the protesters demanding reservation under 2A Category for the Panchamasali Lingayats even as the community members staged protests across the state demanding suspension of senior cops for alleged highhandedness.

Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, state Home Minister G. Parameshwara said the police had resorted to a lathi-charge as a preventive measure and there was no ill intention behind it. The Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peeth seer Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami and his associates violated the prohibitory orders.

“This is what had happened exactly. I don’t want to go into the aspect of demand for reservations. We will be blamed if the law-and-order system is not maintained. In that background, action has been taken,” Parameshwara said.

He further stated, “Panchamasali sect under the leadership of the seer wanted to protest. To stage a protest is their right. We have not restricted them from staging a protest. He has stated that he would lay siege to the Suvarna Soudha with 5,000 tractors. We did not permit and the seer had approached the court. The court had ordered that the government need not allow the tractors but protestors should be allowed to arrive in Belagavi and stage a protest. A specific place was given for them to protest. Our Chief Minister had sent Ministers H.C. Mahadevappa, K. Venkatesh and M.C. Sudhakar was sent. Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, who hails from Belagavi, had also gone with them.”

“The seer did not budge and demanded that the Chief Minister come to the venue of the protest. When the Ministers were explaining that it was not possible for CM Siddaramaiah to come there, the seer told the protesters to go to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha,” Parameshwara stated, adding, “Then, protesters started coming on the main road (national highway) by pushing away barricades. The police had to stop them. The court had given orders to stage the protest peacefully and not to take law and order into their hands. The district authorities have also given certain orders,” he said.

“All prohibitory orders were violated and High Court orders were also violated as they came forward to lay siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, the police had resorted to mild lathi-charge. If they were allowed to lay siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, everyone would have done it,” he stated.

Sources stated that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had received information about the incident from Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan and was conveyed that the police action against the protesters was correct.

CM Siddaramaiah went through the complete video footage and was briefed that there was a violation of the High Court order, sources stated.

Meanwhile, the members of Panchamasali Lingayats were staging protests across the state following the call by the seer Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami to block roads.

The Panchamasali seer staged a protest near the toll plaza at Hirebagewadi on the outskirts of Belagavi on the national highway. He dubbed CM Siddaramaiah as anti-Lingayat. The protests were staged in Hubballi, Haveri, Gadag and other district headquarters.

The agitation by the Panchmasali Lingayats community turned violent after a mob pelted stones at police and attempted to lay siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on Tuesday. The police had stopped thousands of protesters on their way to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, warning them not to march further. The agitators allegedly threw stones and footwear at the police personnel after which police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the mob.

The seer has charged that the community leaders are being “threatened” by the Congress government in Karnataka to suppress the agitation for reservation. The seer had warned that if anything went wrong, there would be a “blood revolution” in the state.

The Panchamasali community has been demanding inclusion under the 2A category. This will help them to move to the bracket of backward communities where 15 per cent reservation is provided for different communities. The community is presently placed under the 3B category, which gets five per cent reservation in government jobs and education institutions.

The Panchamasali sect is one of the major sects in the Lingayat community and predominantly settled in the North Karnataka region and mostly engaged in agriculture.

The development has taken a serious turn with the BJP pledging total support to the agitation and demands of the Panchamasali Lingayat sect. The Lingayats form the core support for the BJP in Karnataka.

–IANS

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