(Source: ECI/ABP News/ABP Majha)
AAP Protests Over Centre's Ordinance To New Parliament Building Inauguration: What To Expect This Week Ahead
From Arvind Kejriwal-Mamata Banerjee meeting to inauguration of new Parliament building by PM Modi — here's what to expect in The Week Ahead.
As we enter the last week of this month, begin your Monday morning with ABP Live's curation of top news events expected to take place in the coming seven days.
With the Karnataka elections done and a new Chief Minister in place, this week will see significant political activity towards forging Opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Politics aside, the country will get a new Parliament building this week, coinciding with the NDA government's completion of nine years in power.
Read on as we try to decode the news and also the newsmakers in the next seven days help you understand what is likely to happen in the week ahead. Here are the biggest developments expected to play out this week.
PM Modi In Papua New Guinea, Australia This Week
After completing his engagements in Japan and attending the G7 and Quad summits, PM Modi is now in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where he will host the 3rd Summit of the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC III Summit) on Monday.
Thereafter, Modi and James Marape, Prime Minister of PNG, will be holding a crucial bilateral meeting. The meeting comes amid concerns over the island nation’s growing proximity with China, which poses a potential security threat to the entire region and the Indo-Pacific strategic framework.
In the third and final leg of his trip, the PM will visit Australia.PM Modi will hold talks with his Australian counterpart and address a diaspora event on May 23.
Kejriwal-Mamata Meeting, Congress Eyes Other Poll-Bound States
With five more states going to polls this week and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls just months away, the week will see hectic politicking.
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, singed by the Centre seizing back the control over bureaucracy by introducing an ordinance, is set to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday in a bid to drum up support against the BJP.
Even as AAP plans to hit the streets this week in protest against the Centre's move, Kejriwal said he would visit every state and meet Opposition leaders. "I will meet WB CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. I will go to every state and will meet every leader to ask for their support to defeat this bill," the Delhi CM said.
The development is being seen as another platform to unite Opposition parties ahead of the general elections after a show of strength was seen at the recent swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah.
Meanwhile, boosted by their thumping win in Karnataka, Congress is now shifting its focus to other poll-bound states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.
Accoridng to a report in NDTV, Congress has called a meeting of leaders from Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan on May 24 to strategise for upcoming Assembly elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will chair the meeting.
India Set To Get New State-Of-The Art Parliament Building
More than 95 years after the present Parliament building was completed, the country will get a new state-of-the-art Parliament on May 28. The new building, which can comfortably seat 888 members in the Lok Sabha chamber and 300 in the Rajya Sabha chamber, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The event will coincide with the 140th birth anniversary of Veer Savarkar and nine years of the NDA government.
The prime minister had laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament building on December 10, 2020. The present Parliament building was completed in 1927. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore, the building is part of the Central Vista Project.
Built in an area of 64,500 square metres, the new building will have a grand Constitution Hall to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas, and ample parking space.
Exchange Of Rs 2,000 Notes Set To Start In Banks
With the RBI scrapping Rs 2000 notes, banks will start exchanging them from May 23 and one can get notes of other denominations. However, exchange of Rs 2000 notes can be made up to a limit of Rs 20,000 at a time.
While long queues are expected at banks, the RBI has asked them to make special arrangements to reduce inconvenience to the senior citizens, persons with disabilities and women. Moreover, there will be no restriction on standing in the queue again after exchanging or depositing the notes once.
Meanwhile, the SBI has clarified that customers can exchange their notes without obtaining any requisition slip. It also added that no identity proof will be required at the time of exchange.
Meghalaya, Assam CMs To Meet This Week Over Border Dispute
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is likely to meet his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma on May 24 in Guwahati for the second round of border talks. This round of talks is aimed at resolving the remaining six areas of differences.
Recently, sporadic skirmishes were reported at the villages located in the disputed Block I and Block II at the inter-state border. Last week, two huts were set on fire at Khanduli village in Block I.
The first round of border talks concluded in March last year when the two CMs signed an agreement in Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, resolving differences in six areas.