Home / International / India gets new ministers for health, IT, oil amid COVID crisis
India gets new ministers for health, IT, oil amid COVID crisisInternational 2021-07-08, by Editor Comments Off 0
NEW DELHI, – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appointed new federal ministers for health, IT and oil as part of a reshuffle in a bid to reinvigorate his government amid fierce criticism of its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Modi appointed Mansukh Laxman Mandaviya as the country’s new health minister just hours after Harsh Vardhan, who was the face of the government’s efforts to fight COVID-19, was asked to step down along with his deputy.
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the many people who paid tribute to legendary actor Dilip Kumar on Wednesday, calling his departure “a loss to our cultural world.”
Kumar died on Wednesday morning aged 98 following a prolonged illness, leaving behind an “incredible legacy” of films and fans. He is survived by his wife, veteran actor Saira Banu.
“With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return,” read a brief statement on his official Twitter account confirming the news.
In this handout photo provided by the Indian Presidential Palace, the newly sworn in ministers, right, stand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, third left in front row, and other senior ministers during swearing in ceremony at the Presidential Palace in New Delhi on Wednesday.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken a massive rejig of ministries and entrusted technocrats and specialists to ensure effective and faster implementation of policies on the ground.
Health and pharma have been allocated to the same cabinet minister to bring critically needed synergy between the two wings in the middle of a raging pandemic. The new health minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, has been in the core Covid response team over the past year. He had ensured a regular flow of life-saving drugs and brings continuity and hands-on experience. The cabinet minister is complemented with a junior minister who is a tribal woman and practising doctor, and has on-ground experience in fighting m
Modi’s Kashmir meeting: Whither statehood?Kashmir, Kashmir -IOK 2021-07-08, by Editor Comments Off 0
The “right time” to restore statehood will likely be when India’s ruling BJP has irreversibly altered Kashmir.
The complete restoration of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) would come “at the appropriate time”, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to the Kashmiri leaders’ plea for the restoration of Article 370 last week.
This came in a multi-party meeting summoned by PM Modi. Previously, Home Minister Amit Shah has also made similar remarks. It has become a habit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to make such statements. However, nobody seems to know what time the BJP deems appropriate.
Indian Health Minister Resigns amid Alleged Cabinet Reshuffle
NARINDER NANU/AFP via Getty Images
7 Jul 2021
Indian Health Minister Harsh Vardhan resigned Wednesday ahead of a reported “cabinet reshuffle” allegedly planned by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s NDTV reported.
“Vardhan and his deputy Ashwini Chaube both resigned today ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet reshuffle, becoming the most significant casualties of a mega government reset seen by many as course-correction before key polls,” NDTV reported July 7.
“He has submitted his resignation,” an aide of Vardhan told Reuters on July 7.
Prime Minister Modi “is expected to name a successor” to Vardhan “later on Wednesday,” a source close to Vardhan told the news agency.