POLITICS

Much awaited Modi-Trump meeting possible on February 10, 14 or 15!

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the United States on February 14 or 15 to meet President Donald Trump. Both sides are working on Modi’s early visit to the US. According to sources, Modi is scheduled to travel to Paris for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit on February 10-11 and is likely to spend another day there. Trump has also been invited but there is no confirmation about his attendance yet. If both leaders are there, then Modi and Trump are likely to meet on the sidelines of the Summit and that could mean their bilateral talks. If the meeting is not possible at Paris, then New Delhi and Washington are looking at February 14-15 as possible dates for Modi’s first bilateral visit to the US after Trump assumed office for the second time. Sources said that PM’s visit - if it doesn’t happen in February - should happen by April. The thinking is that there should be an early visit by PM Modi before Trump comes to India later this year for the Quad Leaders’ Summit.

No publicity was arranged for the Halwa ceremony

Perhaps for the first time the Ministry of Finance did not allow publicity of the Halwa ceremony, when the officials and staff of budget duty go underground to print the budget. As per information even cameramen and photographers were not given permission  to shoot and no photo or press release was reportedly issued.