Morning Digest | India denies allegations of blocking deals at WTO; Congress Government fights for survival in Himachal Pradesh, and more

From India denies allegations of blocking deals at the WTO; Congress government fights for survival in Himachal Pradesh, here is a select list of stories to start the day on Feb 29, 2024

India is consensus builder at WTO, but certain nations are breaking that on certain issues, says Goyal

India is a consensus builder in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by playing a key role in the process, but some countries are breaking that, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on February 28. “We have to see who is blocking the issues and who is responsible for not letting things of the WTO smoothly,” he told reporters in Abu Dhabi, where the 13th ministerial conference of the WTO is being held. The Minister’s remarks came amid allegations by certain developed nations that India is blocking deals at the WTO.

Congress government fights for survival in Himachal Pradesh

The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh managed to survive the immediate threat to its existence on Wednesday, passing the State’s Budget for 2024-25 in the State Assembly after suspending 15 BJP lawmakers, including Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Jairam Thakur. The Budget Session of the Assembly was adjourned sine die soon afterwards, a day before it was scheduled to conclude on February 29. Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania reserved his order on a disqualification motion against six Congress MLAs who were absent for the vote passing the Budget.

With the February 27 results, NDA just four MPs short of majority in the Upper House

The Rajya Sabha poll results on February 27 have far reaching implications for domestic politics, not just the unfurling crisis with regard to the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, where six MLAs cross-voted in favour of the BJP, or in Uttar Pradesh where the Samajwadi Party (SP) lost its chief whip along with seven MLAs.

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