News
- At least 21 opposition parties announced their plans to boycott the inauguration of the new parliament building in New Delhi by PM Modi. In the joint statement, they said, “Prime Minister Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response”. In response, On the other hand, Biju Janata Dal, TDP and YSRCP announced their decision to attend the inaugural ceremony. The NDA hit out at the opposition's boycott, calling it a “contempt for the very essence of democracy".
- In Pakistan, Fawad Chaudhry and two former lawmakers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab became the latest to part ways with the Imran Khan-led political party PTI on account of the violence on May 9. Asad Umar, head of PTI’s economic team, stepped down from his party office but he did not quit the party like his former colleagues Shireen Mazari, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan and several others who left PTI recently. PTI leader Qasim Suri’s family also distanced itself from the party.
- BCCI secretary Jay Shah said today “The respective presidents of the Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka Cricket Boards will grace the Tata IPL 2023 final to be held on May 28 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. We will hold discussions with them for outlining the future course of action in relation to Asia Cup 2023." It comes against the backdrop of India not being willing to play its matches in the Asia Cup in politically unstable Pakistan. Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled to be played in September, a month before the ODI World Cup.
- On the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a peace plan to end the war with Russia and asked for his support. According to the sources, the proposal is under consideration by the Modi government.