SUNDAY FEATURE

While speaking at an event at the India International Centre on April 5, the Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said that once infrastructure projects are completed in Jammu and Kashmir, people will be able to reach Delhi from Srinagar in just 8 hours.

He said the government was taking up several important infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir that will improve connectivity in the region.

"We are constructing Asia's longest tunnel at Zojila between Kashmir and Ladakh. The Atal Tunnel on Leh-Manali route has already reduced the travel time. The work on Srinagar-Katra-Delhi expressway is also in progress and in future people will be able to reach Delhi from Srinagar in just eight hours," Gadkari said.

Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday spoke on the use of loudspeakers amid a debate over the Azaan row that started in neighbouring Maharashtra last week. A day after Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa said "a solution should be found to address the concerns over the use of loudspeakers in mosques in the state", the chief minister on Tuesday told reporters: "This is a high court order. It's not forced. Everything has to be done by talking and explaining to people."

He further clarified: "It is not only for azaan, it is for all loudspeakers. So, we will take a call." Last year, the high court had curbed the use of loudspeakers in religious places.

Congress in Assam has banned its members from talking about cross voting by party's MLAs in the recently held elections for two Rajya Sabha seats in the state, which were won by BJP and its ally, UPPL after some senior party leaders openly alleged that some legislators had indulged in cash-for-vote.

NDA was short of four votes but still won both seats comfortably because of obvious cross voting by opposition MLAs. Congress leader Ripun Bora, who was the consensus candidate of opposition comprising Congress, AIUDF, CPI (M) and an Independent, despite having the exact number of votes required for win initially was defeated.

Borah fell short of votes of seven legislators which were transferred to the NDA candidates. The two seats were vacated by Congress, one of them held by Bora himself.

India and Singapore on Tuesday reaffirmed their strong and long-standing defence ties as Indian Army chief General M M Naravane held talks with top Singaporean military leadership and discussed the roadmap to further enhance bilateral military cooperation. The Chief of Army Staff, who is on a three-day visit to the city-state, called on Singapore’s Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, and discussed regional geopolitical developments. In the meeting, “the strong & long-standing bilateral defence relationship between both Nations was reaffirmed,” the Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) tweeted.

Gen. Naravane also called on Singapore’s Army chief Brigadier General David Neo and discussed “the roadmap to further enhance defence cooperation between both nations,” it said.

He also reviewed the Guard of Honour at the Defence Ministry and complimented the Guard for an “impeccable turnout and parade”.Gen Naravane, on the first day of his tour on Monday, visited the Kranji war memorial in Singapore and paid tributes to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty during World War-II.

A group of Sri Lanka lawmakers have backed the formation of an interim government to steer the nation out of its worst economic crisis in decades. The lawmakers - including a cabinet minister who quit Sunday and another from the ruling party - warned of 'violence' and 'anarchy' if an interim government backed by a parliamentary majority is not constituted at the earliest.

The lawmakers urged the parliament speaker to lead discussions with all parties to select an interim prime minister with the support of a majority of legislators.

"The first condition to solve this problem is that this government has to leave. In its place there should be an interim government," Wimal Weerawansa, a former cabinet member, said Tuesday.

"We as members of the government and opposition have a responsibility. .. If not, there can be a bloodbath," Wijayadasa Rajapakshe, a ruling party lawmaker, said, and warned, "If that happens, you and all of us will be responsible."