Muslims Insecurity, Triple Talaq, Kashmir Imbroglio; Hamid Ansari steers political debate

Ansari’s remarks drew political reactions, with the ruling BJP accusing him of playing ‘Muslim politics’. In his final interview as the Vice President of India, Dr Hamid Ansari did not refrain from expressing his opinion on a range of topics affecting the national political discourse. From ‘insecurity creeping among minorities’ to the politicisation of triple talaq, and the current imbroglio in Kashmir, Ansari gave his insights which were at variance with the stance adopted by the ruling government. Here are the highlights from his interview to Rajya Sabha TV: On…

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India, US conspiring to sabotage Indus Waters Treaty: Khawaja Asif

Pakistan has accused India and the US of being “involved in an international conspiracy to sabotage the Indus Water(s) Treaty”,+ reported Pakistani media. India is “also supporting the conspiracies being hatched by Afghanistan against Pakistan”, isn’t giving any response to “Pakistan’s peace initiatives” and is, like Afghanistan, involved in a “blame game” with Islamabad as the target, said Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s new foreign minister. In his first press conference since being appointed foreign minister, Asif also reportedly said that “Pakistan’s desire for peace and good relations with neighbours should not…

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Venkaiah Naidu (NDA candidate) wins vice presidential election with 516 votes

The ruling NDA candidate and former Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu was on Saturday elected as the next Vice-President of India. Naidu defeated the Opposition candidate and former diplomat Gopalkrishna Gandhi by a margin of 272 votes. Naidu secured 516 votes as against 244 got by Gandhi. In all 771 out of 785 MPs cast their votes. Votes of 11 MPs were declared invalid. Fourteen MPs of different political parties did not vote for varied reasons. Three hundred and eighty one votes were needed to win. The ruling NDA candidate…

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