LEAD

An altercation started out between the Congress and the BJP across the country and also majorly in  Rajasthan on Monday over the political development in Puducherry where the latter was reduced to a minority in the state assembly.

The Congress government in Puducherry fell on Monday after Chief Minister V Narayanasamy resigned ahead of the confidence vote in the Assembly with the coalition ministry reduced to a minority due to a spate of resignations of party MLAs and a DMK legislator recently.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his cabinet colleagues in the Union Territory resigned on Monday after their government lost the confidence vote sought by him in the face of its depleted strength of 11 against the opposition's 14 in the 33-member Assembly.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has accused the government of "profiting off people's misery and suffering" by increasing prices of fuel in India.

In her letter, Gandhi says, "On one hand, India is witnessing systematic erosion of jobs, wages and household income. The middle class and those at the margins of our society are struggling. These challenges have been compounded by run away inflation and an unprecedented rise in price of almost all household items and essential commodities. Sadly, in these distressing times, the Government has chosen to profiteer off people's misery & suffering [sic]."

She further adds, "Petrol has breached the 100/litre mark in many parts of the country. To put it in context, the crude oil price is nearly half of what it was during the UPA Government's tenure. Therefore, your Government's act of raising prices [continuously for 12 days till February 20th] is little less than a brazen act of profiteering."

New Delhi: Two days after announcement of joining BJP, 'Metro man of India', E Sreedharan had said that he hopes that the party will come around the proposal of making him the Chief Minister candidate of BJP in Kerala assembly polls adding that only then will it get a new face and image in the state. Earlier on Thursday, the 88-year-old engineer sprang a surprise by announcing his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party and added that his main aim is to help the BJP come to power in Kerala where the assembly polls are due in April-May this year.

“The BJP has not made any proposal to me for being the CM... I hope that the BJP will come around with the proposal only then the BJP will get a new face and a new image… I think my joining BJP will instil confidence in the people and they would in turn vote for the BJP,” Sreedharan said in an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18.

As the disengagement of troops has been fully completed along the Southern and Northern bank of Pangong lake, India and China will discuss disengagement from three friction points in Eastern Ladakh including Gogra, Hot Springs and Depsang plains in the Corps Commander level talks scheduled on Saturday. According to Army sources, India and China are set to hold the 10th round of Corps Commander level talks at 10 am on Saturday on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Moldo. 

Meanwhile, Indian troops have moved to their depth locations after the disengagement. The disengagement of troops of the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army from the Line of Actual Control was reached after sustained negotiations at the military and diplomatic level, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last week.

"This agreement was reached after several rounds of sustained negotiations at the military and diplomatic level," Anurag Srivastava, MEA Spokesperson said in a press briefing, further adding that the next steps post disengagement has been "clearly spelt out" by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his speech in the Parliament.

"Prior to Independence, Assam enjoyed a high per-capita income but since 1947, its development was neglected. Correcting the historical mistake of neglecting Assam had begun with former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, and now it has gained strength with the BJP government taking its development as a priority," he said. The PM virtually launched the Rs 3,231-crore 'Mahabahu Brahmaputra' project on Thursday, which includes the construction of inland water terminal at Jogighopa and tourist jetties at Pandu, Jogighopa, Neamati and Biswanath ghat.

Modi said developing waterway connectivity under 'Mahabahu Brahmaputra' will provide an alternative route to connect the northeast with other parts of India and neighbouring countries.