As PM Modi Embarks On Russia Trip, His Two-Decade-Old Photo With Putin Surfaces

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Among the slew of programmes, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to host a dinner for PM Modi while the latter is slated to address the Indian community during the two-day visit

New Delhi, July 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday embarked on a two-day visit to Russia, for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. During the trip, PM Modi and his Russian counterpart are likely to discuss and assess multifaceted relations between the two nations and also exchange views on issues of regional and global concern.

Among the slew of programmes, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to host a dinner for PM Modi while the latter is slated to address the Indian community during the two-day visit.

PM Modi-Vladimir Putin meeting will see the world media including the Chinese, zeroing in on the high-profile meeting that is bound to have a wide geo-political impact in the region.

Meanwhile, an old photo of PM Modi and President Putin has surfaced on social media. The viral photo is from the meeting that happened when Narendra Modi was Gujarat CM and accompanied the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Moscow for the India-Russia Summit in 2021.

Modi Archive, the popular X account sharing the photograph of the two leaders, said that the longstanding relationship between India and Russia has deep historical roots, which got strengthened over a period of time and also mentioned a specific incident on how the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi’s initiative led to solidification of ties.

“During this (2001) visit, CM Modi signed a protocol pact for cooperation between his state Gujarat and the Russian province Astrakhan in which both states agreed to work together in the fields of petro and hydrocarbon sectors, trade, science and technology, education, tourism and culture. In the following years, these ties were strengthened through several visits,” the Modi Archive said.

It further informs that the Gujarat CM visited Russia’s Astrakhan in 2006 again and met with Governor Alexander Zhilkin, and the protocol pact for cooperation was extended for another five years.

In 2009, he was invited to address the 4th International Energy Week and deliver a keynote at the 9th Russian Oil and Gas Week conference. The then CM Modi stumped the Russian businessmen by giving the presentation in Russian language.

In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled his vivid memories of his 2001 visit to Russia and remarked that it was his first meeting with President Vladimir Putin. He had stated that despite coming from a small state and relatively new to the international stage, President Putin treated him with great respect, which opened the doors to a lasting friendship.

(IANS)

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Senior Odisha OFS Placed Under Suspension Over Forester’s Suicide Case

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Bhubaneswar, Oct 6: Senior Odisha Forest Service (OFS) officer Debendra Kumar Behera, Silviculturist, Rayagada Division, has been placed under suspension to ensure a free and fair investigation into the alleged suicide death of forester Sanjay Kumar Nayak.

The suspension order was issued by the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department.

The body of Nayak was found hanging in his official quarters at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district on September 18. Nayak, a resident of Rayagada district, was posted at the Jaring Research Garden in Kalahandi. Nayak in his suicide note had allegedly held Behera responsible for his taking the extreme step.

The Forest Department in its order noted that a prima-facie allegation of abetment to commit suicide was made against Behera, Silviculturist of Rayagada Division, in the suicidal note of deceased Sanjay Kumar Nayak.

Notably, Nayak’s wife Priyanka Subudhi had alleged that her husband had died due to the mental torture meted out to him by the senior officials in the Rayagada Division.

She claimed that Nayak was allegedly being pressurised for the percentage commission for different projects undertaken by the state Forest Department in the area. Nayak’s wife also alleged that her husband took the extreme step as he failed to bear the torture.

As per the Forest Department order, a case (368/24) under section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered against Behera, at the Bhawanipatna Town Police station on September 18.

The Chief Conservator of Forests (T&D), Cuttack Circle has also been directed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force] of Odisha to initiate an inquiry into the matter and submit his findings for further needful action.

“Now, therefore, pending receipt of inquiry report from Chief Conservator of Forests (T&D), Cuttack Circle and to facilitate smooth inquiry and prevent tampering, Debendra Kumar Behera, OFS-I (SB), Silviculturist, Rayagada Division is placed under suspension with immediate effect in terms of sub rule-(1)(b) of Rule-12 of the O.C.S (CC&A) Rules, 1962 and shall remain under suspension until further order,” added the order.

--IANS

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CBI Gets Clues On How Sandip Ghosh-Ashish Pandey Nexus Accepted Cash Through Paper Leaks

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Kolkata, Oct 6: The CBI officials probing the case of financial irregularities at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata have got specific clues about how the former principal Sandip Ghosh through his house staff Ashish Pandey used to accept cash by leaking question paper to medical students eager to pay money for easy success.

While CBI is conducting parallel probes against Ghosh in both the cases of financial irregularities and the brutal rape and murder of the junior doctor, the investigating officials have also taken Pandey into custody in the case of financial irregularities.

Sources said that through Pandey's interrogation, the officials secured information on how Ghosh was dependent on Pandey’s recommendation to decide on the examination success of the medical students.

Ghosh and Pandey's bank accounts are under the CBI scanner to get further clues about such illegal transactions. Pandey is among the 10 doctors of R.G. Kar who had been expelled by the College authorities as per a notification issued by the latter on Saturday night.

Sources said that besides Pandey, the officials have also been able to track links of Ghosh with a number of influential persons within the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC), all of whom are currently under the scanner of CBI.

The other charges against Ghosh include manipulation in the tendering system, awarding infrastructure-related contracts of R.G. Kar to private agencies instead of the state public works department, smuggling of bio-medical wastes outside and selling of organs of unidentified bodies coming to the R.G. Kar morgue for post-mortem purposes.

Ghosh, Pandey and three others arrested by CBI in the financial irregularities case will be presented at a special court in Kolkata on Monday.

In the meantime, sources said that Ghosh had been investigated several times by CBI officials at a correctional home in South Kolkata where he is housed now.

--IANS

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Bigg Boss 18: Swami Aniruddha Acharya Maharaj Becomes Salman Khan’s Matchmaker

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

Mumbai, Oct 6: Bigg Boss 18, which is all set to premiere on October 6 at 9 pm, has released its latest promo.

The promo features the immensely popular Swami Aniruddha Acharya Maharaj along with Salman Khan and a Bigg Boss contestant. While the full face of the contestant isn't revealed, his voice and turban makes it clear that the contestant is BJP politician Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga.

In the promo, Swami Aniruddha Acharya Maharaj asks Tajinder Bagga, "Aap kis uddeshya se yahan aaye hain?" (What is your purpose for coming to the Bigg Boss house?). Bagga humorously replies, "Rajnaitik log bahut lalchi hote hain. Hamara lalach ye hota hai ki jyada se jyada log humein janen" (Politicians are greedy. Our greed is to be known by as many people as possible).

Swami Ji continues by asking Bagga, "Aapki shaadi ho gayi?" (Are you married?). Bagga responds, "Bhai se chota hoon" (I am younger than Salman).

In a lighthearted moment, Swami Aniruddha Acharya Maharaj jokingly declares, "Do dekhni padegi, ek aapke liye aur ek inke liye" (I will have to find two matches, one for you and one for Salman).

Adding to the humor, he says, "Main jo dekhoonga, woh bhagegi nahi" (I will find a girl who won't run away).

Salman, with his usual wit, instantly replies, "Humein bhagodi chahiye" (I want a runaway girl).

Tajinder Bagga, a BJP politician from Delhi, is quite popular on social media for fearlessly raising his voice for nationalist causes. In 2020, he contested the Hari Nagar Assembly seat on a BJP ticket but lost to AAP’s Rajkumari Dhillon. In 2022, Bagga was arrested by the Punjab police after allegations by the AAP of making provocative statements.

Bigg Boss 18 has some interesting contestants this season, including TV actor Nia Sharma, Vivian Dsena, and Alice Kaushik. Bollywood actor Shilpa Shirodkar is also part of the show.

(IANS)

As PM Modi Embarks On Russia Trip, His Two-Decade-Old Photo With Putin Surfaces

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