A new tussle started between the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the inauguration of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprasth University in East Delhi.

Delhi education minister, Atishi had announced the inauguration of the university by the Delhi CM which prompted the Delhi LG to issue a statement saying, “Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself was aware of the fact that the L-G was scheduled to inaugurate the campus. In fact, they were also aware that they were supposed to be present in the function as Guest of Honour and distinguished guest, as desired by the L-G and had also consented to it.”

“Moreover, even on the day when Atishi made this claim in a press conference, i.e. 06.06.2023, earlier during the day, the VC of GGSIPU had announced on stage at the Convocation of GGSIPU, where Atishi was present as a Guest of Honour, that the East Campus of the University was scheduled to be inaugurated by the Lt. Governor on 08.06.2023,” it added.  

Reacting to this Delhi education minister, Atishi said that the L-G should not forget that education, higher education and technical education are all transferred subjects.

Even Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj reacted to this, saying that the L-G should focus on inauguration of buildings which come under Police, Land and Public order.

“The construction of this campus started when he (VK Saxena) was not the L-G. Manish Sisodia started this work and our elected government took it further. It is strange now for the L-G to say that he was asked by officials to inaugurate the university campus,” Bhardwaj said.

“At this rate, the L-G could say tomorrow that he would inaugurate Saurabh Bhardwaj’s office. That’s why L-G has kept all officers under his control and wants to keep it going. The CM is the one vested with the moral authority to inaugurate the campus. Such thoughts should not even come to the L-G’s mind,” he added.

Tensions have been rising between the Delhi L-G and Delhi CM for the past few years over various matters. Notably, in May this year a Supreme Court judgement had ruled that the Delhi government had powers over civil services in the Delhi after which the Centre had brought in an ordinance regarding civil services giving more power to the L-G, creating more friction between the two posts.

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Russia raises defence spending target to $100 billion

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Moscow

Russia has doubled its defence spending target to $100 billion in 2023. Russia’s economy is booming despite Western countries, initially led by the US, imposing various sanctions on Russia over its war with Ukraine.

The British Ministry of Defense claims that the share of defence expenditure in the total expenditure of the Russian government has reached about 30 per cent. At the beginning of the year, Russia had set a defence spending target of $54 billion. But, in the first six months itself, Russia has spent 12 per cent more than the target. Russia’s domestic economy remains strong despite Western sanctions and heavy war spending.

Analysts believe that Russia’s domestic economy is getting a boost from the military industry. According to an estimate, Russia has spent about 1000 billion rubles in the first 6 months of this year on the army. In July, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said that now more ammunition is being made every month that was not made in the whole of 2022. Western analysts claim that Russia is cutting spending on infrastructure like schools, hospitals and roads to fund the war. However, the economy remains active due to military activities.

Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to an additional 19 years in prison by a Russian court on Friday. This is the third and longest prison term he has been sentenced to. Navalny, 47, who is President Vladimir Putin’s most staunch critic, is already serving more than 11 years in prison for fraud and other alleged crimes. Navalny has been convicted of setting up an extremist organization and funding its activities.

Russia’s defence Ministry said that on Friday morning two drones attacked the base of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea, which damaged a warship. However, later both drones were shot down. At the same time, Ukraine took responsibility for the attack and said that if the Russian vessel Olengorsky Garnyak has been destroyed, it will no longer be a problem for Ukraine.

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