Vice President Ansari Greets People on Eid-ul-Fitr

Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari has greeted the people of our country on the joyous occasion of Id-ul-Fitr. In a message, he said that Id-ul-Fitr marks the culmination of the holy month of Ramzan and signifies the traditional expression of brotherhood and understanding between people. The festival reaffirms the spirit of compassion, charity and generosity in our lives, he added.

“I convey my heartiest greetings and good wishes to the people of our country on the joyous occasion of Id-ul-Fitr. Id-ul-Fitr marks the culmination of the holy month of Ramzan and signifies the traditional expression of brotherhood and understanding between people. The festival reaffirms the spirit of compassion, charity and generosity in our lives.May the noble ideals associated with Id-ul-Fitr enrich our lives with peace, harmony and the spirit of humanity,” he said in his message.

Ramzan or Eid is on Monday, June 26, 2017, marking the  completion of the holy Ramzan or Ramadan month (Islamic month of Shawwal) throughout which Muslims observe fasting.

Ramadan-mubarakThe date for Eid al-Fitr, the first day of the month that follows Ramadan, is determined based upon the sighting of the new moon, which can vary in different parts of the world and this time it is expected to fall on Sunday or Monday in most of the Arab world.

In some Muslim countries, religious councils determine the moon sighting and Muslim clerics wait as the end of the month nears to know when the Eid date will be. The basis is that a new moon should be visible to the naked eye, unless clouds cover the sky in full.

It is believed that the holy book of Quran was written during this month and so people try to purify their soul with their thoughts and deeds. Muslims from all over the world greet this month with great anticipation and carry on fasting during daytime throughout the month and eat and drink even water only after sunset.

Eid is a day when people who have gone through a whole month of fasting and doing all deeds in the remembrance of Allah, wish to rejoice and they feel closer to Allah who they believe will help get rid of their sins of past. The entire month has witnessed Iftaar parties or communal meals.

Muslims also wear new clothes, visit friends, family members, exchange Eid cards and give presents of sweets and small toys to children.

 

BREXIT Fall Out: PM Cameron to Quit in October

Now that the UK has done what was expected in the last one decade, exiting from the European Union, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron has decided to quit from the office in October as the referendum went against his wish to continue in the Union.

In India, the government’s reaction is on expected lines that the economy has enough "firepower" to deal with the situation, and that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been "working" on possible eventualities and the Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das was upbeat on fundamentals. But let us face it — grim future ahead and perhaps another prolonged period of uncertainty and recession.

The BSE Sensex lost 1,050 points and investors have lost Rs.4 lakh crore in one day. The rupee touched the 68-mark, down by nealry one rupee in one day, indicating its weakness in a globally turbulent economy. "You know the pound sterling have been depreciating so all currencies have been depreciating," defended Das. With $360 billion in foreign exchange reserves with RBI, he said India’s position "is very sound and solid."

While the knee-jerk reaction is likely to cool in a coule of weeks, for Britain the changes will not be overwhelming as it had always played an outsider role within the European Union. Unlike other members, it had kept its currency, the pound sterling in tact and never joined the Schengen zone of passport-free travel in Europe. Its contribution to EU budget is also relatively less than others.

The pound sterling may see downward movement for sometime and so is India’s rupee but for the reality of entirely breaking away from the European Union may take about two years, if the current David cameroon’s government gives its consent and goes ahead with the referendum’s outcome to exit from EU. So, these two years will be sufficient for India to move closer to the UK both in terms of trade treaty and negotiate more opportunites.

While the immigration was a major cause of worry for Indians in Britain, they can breathe easy now with the exit plan putting a cap on 100,000 immigrants per annum taking concrete shape as no more EU immigrants can enter Britain so easily now. With the immigrants stopped from elsewhere, India may leverage the opportunity for a more favourable immigration policy with the UK.

Finally, the oil prices will fall following Brexit and it will squarely put in more reserves in RBI kitty. "So when oil prices decline, Indian economy benefits," said another Indian Finance Ministry official.

UK PM David Cameron to Resign in October.