Page 2 - Periscope

A collector's item to mark Mother Teresa's canonisation

The delegation from India to mark Mother Teresa's canonisation in the Vatican will be led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Other members in the delegation will be Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, MPs KV Thomas, Conrad Sangma, Anto Anthony, Jose K Mani, Goa Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza, Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph, lawyer Harish Salve, Secretary General of Catholic Bishops Conference of India Theodore Mascarenhas and KJ Alphons. The external affairs ministry has also given political clearances to delegations led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to visit the Vatican.To mark Mother Teresa's canonisation in the Vatican on September 4, a postal cover, coin and statue will be dedicated to the late Roman Catholic nun. Made of pure silk, India Post will release a special postal and numismatic cover of Mother Teresa, the first of its kind, on September 2. "A five-rupee commemorative coin

Gubernatorial reshuffle likely this week

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah has been in touch with various candidates who are likely to move to Raj Bhavans

Modi to kick off campaign to rekindle patriotism

The campaign will see the entire council of ministers travel across the country to "rekindle the spirit of patriotism"

Kejriwal attacks Modi, Shah

In the midst of his bitter fight with the Centre on a range of issues, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused the Modi dispensation of turning its relationship with Delhi government into an "India-Pakistan" type situation and alleged that BJP President Amit Shah was "micromanaging" functioning of the CBI. In the first edition of his Talk to AK show, seen as his answer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Maan Ki Baat and an attempt to increase Aam Aadmi Party's national connect, the Delhi Chief Minister said his government would have achieved four times of what has been done for the city in the last 17 months had "obstacles" not been put by the Centre. Kejriwal called for repealing the "no-detention policy" under which every student is promoted till Class IX. "Don't mess around with the youth and education of this country. If this system continues then the future may be in peril, unemployment will be widespread. The Centre has a no-detention policy in place till Class VIII.Elect

Govt to firm up strategy on GST

The government will firm up its strategy for the passage of the GST Bill in the Rajya Sabha this week

Cabinet reshuffle likely today

There is renewed speculation on a likely Cabinet reshuffle on Monday. Mahant Adityanath could be made a minister, along with Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal; between five and 10 people could be added to the council of ministers. Immediately after, the appointment of a full-time governor for Punjab is likely. Currently, Kaptan Singh Solanki is governor for both Punjab and Haryana, which is problematic as both states have several disputes with each other.Decision on UP chief secretary this weekThis week will see a decision on a new chief secretary (CS) in Uttar Pradesh (UP). After superannuation of Alok Ranjan, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has to pick a successor. Ranjan has already been appointed advisor to the CM. A new CS will, therefore, find himself circumscribed by the CM's advisor.SC to hear Delhi govt's plea on power todayThe Supreme Court will on Monday hear a plea from the city government in Delhi seeking a direction from the apex court to the high court on the scope of its powers.

Jayalalithaa's Delhi visit

This will be her first visit to the national capital after assuming the office of Chief Minister for the sixth time. She will be coming to Delhi after two years

Celebrations for 2 years in power

The Narendra Modi government on Thursday will complete two years in power at the Centre. Elaborate celebrations are planned, and ministers are giving interviews about their achievements in two years on orders from the Prime Minister himself. Narendra Modi will also address a special Mann ki Baat to list what the government has done in two years. The party will have its own celebration.Sonowal requests Gogoi to attend his swearing-in ceremonyBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party leader Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday requested outgoing chief minister Tarun Gogoi to take part in his swearing-in ceremony to be held on Tuesday in Guwahati.Sonowal visited Gogoi at his official residence in Koinadhara area of the city on Sunday and invited him to the oath-taking function to be held at Khanapara field. A host of dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah, are slated to attend it.Sonowal also sought Gogoi's advice, goodwill and blessings, the chief mi

Bihar's marathon electoral exercise

Bihar is right now going through a marathon electoral exercise - that of panchayat elections

Of elbow grease & exit polls

The noise of the Assembly elections will hit fever pitch in the following days, as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry prepare to elect their representatives to the Legislative Assembly. Leaders of all political parties are likely to make a beeline to the south, where campaigning will cease on Friday evening. The high point of the week will be the exit polls conducted by most media houses that will come out on the evening of May 16 - the day the election concludes.Since most of the top leaders - Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi - have already completed their tour of the states, it will fall on local leaders to provide the elbow grease and gear up for the final campaign push.GST caught in Agusta crosshairsThis week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will meet the Congress brass for a second time to discuss if the rate of taxation should be part of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Constitution Amendment Bill or not?Last week, when in Frankfurt for a meeting of the Asian

Focus back on Nandigram

Nandigram, Haldia, Panskura East and Tamluk are among the 25 constituencies in West Bengal that will go to the polls on Thursday

Modi's taking oath followed by disasters in country: Lalu

Stating that no one takes notice of the PM, Prasad wondered what happened to Adarsh Gram Yojana

Congress wants extended Budget session in Punjab

The 12th session of the 14th Punjab Vidhan Sabha will begin from Tuesday to pass the annual budget for 2016-17

Rajasthan to witness stormy Budget session

The Rajasthan Budget (2016-17) is likely to be presented on March 8, though the Business Advisory Committee will finalise the date