Russian Presidential Election 2024: Vladimir Putin’s challenger Yekaterina Duntsova barred from contesting elections over alleged application error Former TV journalist Yekaterina Duntsova faced a major setback in her bid to run against President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming March election. The central electoral commission unanimously rejected her candidacy, citing alleged mistakes in her application. Video footage from the commission’s meeting captured the moment when members voted to reject Duntsova’s candidacy. Following the decision, the head of the commission, Ella Pamfilova, offered words of consolation to Duntsova, emphasizing her youth and the potential for turning setbacks into opportunities.Duntsova’s Documented Deficiencies Screenshots shared by Duntsova’s campaign channel revealed documents flagged by the commission for lacking proper signatures. The rejection occurred just three days after she had submitted supporting documents for her candidacy, intending to focus on ending the war in Ukraine and advocating for the release of political prisoners. The Kremlin maintains that Putin enjoys widespread support, citing opinion poll ratings of approximately 80%. Despite Duntsova’s aspirations and the criticism she faced, the official stance is that Putin is poised to secure victory in the first presidential election since the onset of the Ukraine conflict. Despite facing skepticism and adversity, Duntsova, 40, had expressed her determination to stand as a candidate. Described by commentators as both brave and, alternatively, as part of a scripted plan, she emphasized the importance of overcoming fear in pursuing her political aspirations. (With Reuters Inputs)
If the current trend continues for a longer period of time, not only oil mills but oilseeds growers will also not be able to get good rates of their produce, says Samir Shah, president of Gujarat State Edible Oils and Oil Seeds Association (GEOA). Shah who is also past president of SOMA says that due to various international factors rates of edible oils had gone up considerably, especially imported oils earlier this year.
“With a view to curb rising prices of edible oil, the Government of India reduced import duty on edible oils. Considering the fact that India is producing hardly 30 percent of its edible oil requirement, the decision was right at that point of time. Now when international prices of edible oils have gone down by 15 percent to 25 percent and high production period has started in edible oil exporting countries, the government should gradually increase import duty to protect local oil mills and oilseeds growers,” said Shah. GEOA has also made representation before Union Minister for Commerce & Consumer Affairs, Piyush Goyal to increase import duty.
In June import duty on edible oils was ranging from 35 to 55 percent, since then the government gradually reduced import duty and at present it is ranging from zero percent to 15 percent on different edible oils, he said.
Just a month back prices of edible oils were through the roof and the government took appropriate measures by reducing import duty in order to protect consumers, says Atul Chaturvedi, president of Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA). “Prices of edible oils are coming down globally. Kharif sowing has already started across the country. In the interest of local farmers, it is high time to enhance import duty in a phased manner to encourage local edible oil value chain,” opined Chaturvedi.
On Thursday imported Palm oil prices were at around Rs 2100 per 15 kg as against local Rs 2700 and Rs 2550 of groundnut and cottonseed oils. Prices of other local oils including ricebran, coconut, soyabean and mustard remained as high as Rs 2350, Rs 2520, Rs 2500 and Rs 2580 respectively.
India imports around 13-13.5 million tonnes of edible oils, of which around 8-8.5 million tonnes (around 63 per cent) are palm oil. Though the price of other imported Sunflower oil remained at around Rs 2700 per 15 kg, but import quantity of the oil is much lower than that of palm oil.