Opposition Meeting LIVE News Updates: BJP MP Sushil Modi derides opposition ahead of meeting in Patna

11:16 (IST)

Opposition Meeting LIVE Updates

BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad asks who would be Opposition’s PM candidate for the upcoming polls

As political figures gathered in Patna, Bihar, for the mammoth Opposition gathering on Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad wondered who will be the Opposition's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

"Nitish Kumar 2024 ke liye baaraat saja rahe hai Patna mai, baaraat me to dulha bhi hota hai, pr is baaraat ka dulha kon hai? (Nitish Kumar is preparing the wedding procession for the 2024 elections in Patna, but who is the groom (PM contender). Everyone is calling themselves a PM contender," he said.

Leaders of Opposition parties from across the country are set to meet in Patna to chalk out a strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

11:01 (IST)

Opposition Meeting LIVE Updates

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge arrive in Patna

Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in Patna on Friday to attend an Opposition leaders' conference sponsored by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, with the goal of forging a unified Opposition front to take on the BJP.

Speaking to media before of the meeting, Kharge stated that the opposition parties' goal is to destabilise the Bharatiya Janata Party-led administration at the Centre, and that they will fight together.

"We all want to fight together against BJP and our agenda is to remove the BJP government," Kharge said while talking to the media as he left for the opposition meeting in Patna.

10:24 (IST)

Opposition Meeting LIVE Updates

‘All leaders are united to defeat PM Modi’ says JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar

Janata Dal (United) leader Neeraj Kumar stated on Friday, ahead of a mammoth gathering of key Opposition groups in Patna, that all leaders are united to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 general election.

"All leaders including Mamata Banerjee, and Akhilesh Yadav are united to defeat PM Modi in 2024," the JDU leader said.

10:22 (IST)

Opposition Meeting LIVE Updates

BJP MP Sushil Modi derides opposition ahead of meeting in Patna

Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi lashed out at opposition leaders who are set to gather in Patna today to establish a unified Opposition front to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, claiming that the opposition parties are not united.

"Sitting together for tea does not mean that the opposition is united," Sushil Modi said ahead of the opposition meeting.

10:10 (IST)

Opposition Meeting LIVE Updates

‘Manipur issue to be discussed in Opposition meet,’ says NCP's Sharad Pawar

As he headed for the conference in Bihar's Patna on Friday morning, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar stated that the "Manipur issue will also be discussed" during the Opposition leaders' meeting.

Pawar, joined by his daughter Supriya Sule, went on to say that "they are meeting to discuss some important issues of the country and decide the future course of action."

09:41 (IST)

Opposition Meeting LIVE Updates

‘We want to fight together’: Mallikarjun Kharge ahead of Opposition meet in Patna

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with party leader Rahul Gandhi, will attend the opposition unity conference in Patna on Friday.

Speaking to media before of the meeting, Kharge stated that the opposition parties' goal is to destabilise the Bharatiya Janata Party-led administration at the Centre, and that they will fight together.

"We all want to fight together against BJP and our agenda is to remove the BJP government," Kharge said while talking to the media as he left for the opposition meeting in Bihar's Patna.

09:29 (IST)

Opposition Meeting LIVE Updates

Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge to address party workers ahead of Opposition meeting in Patna

Before the Opposition leaders' meeting on Friday morning, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi will address party members at the Congress office in Patna, Bihar.

At 10 a.m. on Friday, the two Congress leaders will pay a visit to the party headquarters in Patna and address the party workers.

The two top leaders of the Bihar State Congress will be welcomed at the party's office at Sadakat Ashram. Posters and banners of Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and other party leaders adorn the party's headquarters.

Opposition leaders from around the nation will gather in Patna to devise a plan to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Opposition chose Patna as the site of its convention because it reflects Jayaprakash Narayan's demand for total revolution in 1974, which ousted Indira Gandhi's majority government.

The conference will be held by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with the goal of reaching an agreement to form a united Opposition front to oppose the BJP.

09:01 (IST)

PM Modi in US LIVE Updates

India, US agree to end six trade disputes at WTO; Delhi to remove retaliatory customs duties

According to an official announcement, India and the United States have agreed to settle six trade issues at the World Trade Organisation, and New Delhi would also reduce retaliatory customs tariffs on 28 American items such as almonds, walnuts, and apples.

This comes in the midst of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State Visit to the United States, which he is doing at the request of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

On the basis of national security, the United States levied 25 per cent and 10 per cent import taxes on specific steel and aluminium goods, respectively, in 2018. In return, India levied tariffs on 28 American items in June 2019, including chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, apples, boric acid, and diagnostic reagents.

"United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today announced that the United States and the Republic of India have agreed to terminate six outstanding disputes at the World Trade Organization. India also agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs which it had imposed in response to the Section 232 national security measures on steel and aluminium," Tai said on Thursday.

It added that these tariff cuts will restore and expand market opportunities for US agricultural producers and manufacturers.

08:55 (IST)

PM Modi in US LIVE Updates

PM Modi lauds role of Indian Americans in strengthening India-US relationship

Indian Americans have contributed significantly to the overall development of the country in which they live, as well as to the strengthening of the India-US relationship, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

Modi was speaking at the State Dinner thrown in his honour by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on the White House's North Lawn. 

More than 400 people were invited to the event, including IT titans and billionaires like as Mukesh Ambani, Anand Mahindra, Google CEO Sunder Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Modi raised a glass to his "wonderful" hosts during his State Dinner speech. He dedicated it to the pursuit of pleasure, liberty, equality, and fraternity, as well as the everlasting friendship between India and the United States.

08:23 (IST)

Indian Economy LIVE Updates

Govt spending to drive India growth this fiscal year

According to a Reuters survey of experts, the Indian economy would grow at a solid 6.1 per cent this fiscal year, fuelled primarily by strong government expenditure, with consumption and exports being the biggest drags. Consumer spending, which accounts for 60 per cent of Asia's third-largest economy, has recently stagnated and is no longer giving the support it once provided.

08:13 (IST)

Assam Floods LIVE Updates

Nearly 4.96 lakh people affected in 22 districts due to floods in Assam

As the flood situation worsened in 22 Assam districts on Thursday, about 4.96 lakh people were badly impacted. amid Tamulpur, one person drowned amid flood waters.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority's (ASDMA) flood report, the flood situation in Bajali is the worst, with nearly 2.60 lakh people affected, followed by 77702 people in Nalbari, 65221 people in Barpeta, 25613 people in Lakhimpur, 24023 people in Baksa, 19208 people in Tamulpur, 13704 people in Darrang, and 6538 people in Kokrajhar.

Flood floods have flooded 14091.90 hectares of crops in flood-affected regions.

08:09 (IST)

PM Modi in US LIVE Updates

Legislation introduced in US Congress to fast-track weapons sales to India

A bill to expedite weapons sales to India has been presented in the US Congress, with a group of congressmen arguing that enhancing the nations' strategic cooperation will protect their shared security interests.

This comes in the midst of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State Visit to the United States, which he is doing at the request of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

The legislation, which was introduced on Thursday in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, seeks to put India on an equal footing with other US partners and allies by streamlining and expediting the review and sales process for foreign military sales and exports under the Arms Export Control Act.

While in the House of Representatives, it was introduced by Congressmen Mike Waltz, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Andy Barr and Marc Veasey, in the Senate, it was Mark Warner and John Cornyn.

"The United States and India are bonded by our shared national security interests and democratic values which is why it is so important we continue to strengthen our global partnership to address the threats of today," Waltz said.  

07:25 (IST)

PM Modi in US LIVE Updates

PM Modi thanks the Bidens for official State Dinner

After addressing a joint session of the US Congress, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden received PM Modi at the White House for a state dinner.

"I want to thank US President Joe Biden for this wonderful dinner today. I would also like to thank First Lady Jill Biden for taking care of my visit to make it successful. Yesterday evening you opened the doors of your house for me," PM Modi said during the official State Dinner at The White House.

07:24 (IST)

PM Modi in US LIVE Updates

India US cooperation will serve the global good, says joint statement

Affirming a vision of the US and India as close allies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the two countries diversified collaboration will benefit the global good.

The US-India Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership is anchored in a new level of trust and mutual understanding, and it is enriched by the warm bonds of family and friendship that inextricably link the two countries together, according to a joint statement issued by the White House following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama in the Oval Office and the Cabinet meeting room.

Together, we will build an even stronger, diverse US-India partnership that will advance the aspirations of our people for a bright and prosperous future grounded in respect for human rights, and shared principles of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, said the joint statement.