Renewable energy particularly

our collective interest: EAM

New Delhi (ANI): External Affairs Minister

S Jaishankar who cochaired the fourth India-CARICOM ministerial meeting on Saturday emphasised the need for “collective interest” in the field of renewable energy amid climate change.

Delivering opening remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar said, “Energy, renewable energy particularly, is our collective interest. Many of you are members of the International Solar Alli-

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressing the fourth India-CARICOM ministerial meeting, in Georgetown [Guyana] on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI ance. I think 13 members are there from the CARICOM. I believe it’s been of some help in capacity building, in some cases even funding. I’ll be again open to taking that help. Regarding capacity building as a whole, we have for many years now, under what we call, the ITEC programs.” than the halfway mark of 112 seats in the 224-member legislature. He rejected the Congress’ allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Karnataka as “baseless”. They are not substantiated by any court and have been fabricated by the Congress to cover up corruption during its own regime, Shah claimed, accusing the opposition party of using Karnataka as its “ATM” when it was in power.

“My suggestion which I would like you to consider is, whether instead of our inviting you to participate in a general course, which we are doing globally for everybody, can we actually take domains or specific areas which are of specific interest to CARICOM,” he said.

EXODUS FROM BJP

To Other Parties

IS GOING ON: CONGRESS CHIEF KHARGE

Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated the “LiFE” (Lifestyle for Environment) movement launched by PM Narendra Modi and said, India is committed to furthering sustainable development in line with our culture of living in harmony with nature. The theme for World Earth Day 2023 is ‘Invest In Our Planet. This ongoing theme encourages us all to invest in a better future for our planet by tackling environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and waste reduction.

New Delhi (Agencies): Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar was capable of becoming Maharashtra chief minister since he has vast administrative experience. The statement comes days after the two engaged in a verbal tussle. In an interview, Ajit Pawar on Friday said that the NCP is ready to take the role of Maharashtra Chief Minister now in-

SHAH PRAISES PUNJAB’S GOVT OVER AMRITPAL CRACKDOWN

New Delhi (Agencies):

Praising the Punjab government, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ssaid that there is no Khalistan wave in Punjab, adding that the Centre is keeping a close watch on the situation. “There is no wave (of Khalistan). Many times, some people try, but the governments have done their job. The Punjab government has done a good job, the Centre has supported. Shah also said that the hunt is on and soon Amritpal Singh will be behind bars.

New Delhi (Agencies): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the BJP government in Karnataka had put an end to the Congress-initiated four per cent Muslim reservation in the state. Shah said providing reservations on the basis of religion was against the Constitution. “The Congress had illegally kept 4% reservation for Muslims in the state,” he said. “The Constitution of India does not allow reservations on the basis of religion,” Shah added.

Washington (PTI): A top US official has lauded the freedom of the press in India and the role of journalists in supporting democracy in the world's most populous country.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu said that "there is nothing that's kept secret there. You have India as a democracy in part because you have a free press that really works."

"I know the media market is changing. But I have such respect for the freedom of the press in India. There is nothing that's kept secret there," Lu told PTI. "I can remember going into MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) once and seeing a senior person with files stacked up to the ceiling because he was processing a Right For Information request," he said. Lu appreciated the role of the journalists and the work they do to support Indian democracy.

“US

THAN stead of waiting for it until the 2024 state assembly polls. Raut, a key aide of Uddhav Thackeray, mocked incumbent Eknath Shinde saying that some undeserving people had gone on to become Chief Minister by engineering splits.

CRICKET LEGEND HINTS AT RETIREMENT

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur meets Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and extended an invitation for 100thMannKiBaat national conclave at UPA-Rashtrapati Nivas (his official residence and office) on Saturday. CALLS ON VP