News Analysis India

Tag: Modi

  • Nations that aid terror must pay the price: Modi

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Asserting that there can be no ‘ifs and buts’ in dealing with terrorism, Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Friday tore into countries that are known to support terrorists by offering them political, ideological and financial backing.

    In a not-so-hidden reference to Pakistan and China, Modi said the rest of the world must come together to impose cost on countries that help terrorists flourish. Organisations and individuals that try to create sympathy for terrorists must also be isolated, he added. 

    “Certain countries support terrorism as part of their foreign policy,” Modi said while addressing the No Money for Terror ministerial conference here on Friday. Delegates from 73 countries and representatives of 15 multilateral organisations are attending the two-day conference being held in Delhi on Friday and Saturday. 

    According to officials, Pakistan and Afghanistan were not invited. China was invited but no representative from that country turned up.  Dwelling at length on the different shades of terrorism, Modi said: “International organisations must not think the absence of war means peace. Proxy wars are also dangerous and violent.” He added that the world needs to unite against all kinds of overt and covert backing of terror. 

    Taking a swipe at China, Modi said some countries make indirect arguments to block action against terrorists, adding that there should be equal outrage and action against all kinds of terror attacks.Speaking at the conference, Union home minister Amit Shah opined that financing of terror is more dangerous than terrorism itself. He said terrorists seem to be using cryptocurrency and the darknet to raise money and radicalise youth. 

    Money trailUnderlining the need to strike at the root of terror funding, Modi said organised crime needs to be crushed because money made in gun-running, drugs and smuggling is pumped into terrorism

    NEW DELHI: Asserting that there can be no ‘ifs and buts’ in dealing with terrorism, Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Friday tore into countries that are known to support terrorists by offering them political, ideological and financial backing.

    In a not-so-hidden reference to Pakistan and China, Modi said the rest of the world must come together to impose cost on countries that help terrorists flourish. Organisations and individuals that try to create sympathy for terrorists must also be isolated, he added. 

    “Certain countries support terrorism as part of their foreign policy,” Modi said while addressing the No Money for Terror ministerial conference here on Friday. Delegates from 73 countries and representatives of 15 multilateral organisations are attending the two-day conference being held in Delhi on Friday and Saturday. 

    According to officials, Pakistan and Afghanistan were not invited. China was invited but no representative from that country turned up.  Dwelling at length on the different shades of terrorism, Modi said: “International organisations must not think the absence of war means peace. Proxy wars are also dangerous and violent.” He added that the world needs to unite against all kinds of overt and covert backing of terror. 

    Taking a swipe at China, Modi said some countries make indirect arguments to block action against terrorists, adding that there should be equal outrage and action against all kinds of terror attacks.
    Speaking at the conference, Union home minister Amit Shah opined that financing of terror is more dangerous than terrorism itself. He said terrorists seem to be using cryptocurrency and the darknet to raise money and radicalise youth. 

    Money trail
    Underlining the need to strike at the root of terror funding, Modi said organised crime needs to be crushed because money made in gun-running, drugs and smuggling is pumped into terrorism

  • 49 days after arrival, 2 Cheetahs shifted to big enclosure at Kuno

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL:  Two of the eight Cheetahs flown from India to Namibia on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 72nd birthday have been shifted to a bigger enclosure at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.

    The two Cheetahs were shifted to a larger enclosure at the KNP in Sheopur district on Saturday evening, following the nod from the Special Task Force constituted by the centre in September to monitor the Cheetah reintroduction project.

    But as per sources close to the MP forest minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, the minister isn’t happy over not being taken into confidence before the two Cheetahs  Freddie and Elton were released into a bigger enclosure on Saturday evening.

    Since being flown from Africa to India on September 17 early morning, the eight Cheetahs (five females and three males) were housed in smaller bomas (enclosures) for the mandatory quarantine period. They were to be shifted to bigger enclosure after a month only for better acclimatization with the new environment and gradually start with hunting of prey base. But with the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) Namibia wanting some more arrangements, the shifting was delayed by around 15 days.

    While two Cheetahs have been shifted to the bigger enclosure on Saturday evening, the remaining six big cats will be shifted from the smaller bomas, after a female leopard recently spotted in one of the bigger enclosures is successfully captured by the KNP management. After two to three months in the bigger enclosures, the Cheetahs brought from Namibia are likely to be released in the wild at the KNP.

    BHOPAL:  Two of the eight Cheetahs flown from India to Namibia on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 72nd birthday have been shifted to a bigger enclosure at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.

    The two Cheetahs were shifted to a larger enclosure at the KNP in Sheopur district on Saturday evening, following the nod from the Special Task Force constituted by the centre in September to monitor the Cheetah reintroduction project.

    But as per sources close to the MP forest minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, the minister isn’t happy over not being taken into confidence before the two Cheetahs  Freddie and Elton were released into a bigger enclosure on Saturday evening.

    Since being flown from Africa to India on September 17 early morning, the eight Cheetahs (five females and three males) were housed in smaller bomas (enclosures) for the mandatory quarantine period. They were to be shifted to bigger enclosure after a month only for better acclimatization with the new environment and gradually start with hunting of prey base. But with the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) Namibia wanting some more arrangements, the shifting was delayed by around 15 days.

    While two Cheetahs have been shifted to the bigger enclosure on Saturday evening, the remaining six big cats will be shifted from the smaller bomas, after a female leopard recently spotted in one of 
    the bigger enclosures is successfully captured by the KNP management. After two to three months in the bigger enclosures, the Cheetahs brought from Namibia are likely to be released in the wild at the KNP.

  • Power Games: Dump old ways, think out of the box to promote national interest, says PM

    Express News Service

    Heads of Missions MeetModi, Doval spell out a bold new approach

    Over a hundred heads of Indian missions from across the world gathered at Kevadia, the site of the giant Sardar Patel statue in the Narmada district of Gujarat, for an annual conference. The entire diplomatic corps from over a hundred countries was housed for three days in luxury tents pitched next to the statue of the Iron Man of India. The mission heads left Kevadia all fired up after listening to the stirring speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval. The PM exhorted the senior foreign service officers to dump old ways and think out of the box to promote national interest. He asked them not to be afraid of anyone as they represented a rapidly growing economy which is one of the largest in the world. He said India’s voice is heard the world over and its opinion is valued by all. Doval advised the officers not to stay stuck with old definitions and worldviews. He said times had changed and they should adapt to the changing times. Sessions were held at the conference on China, Russia, Africa, etc where the officers were brought up to speed with the government’s line on critical issues.

    Poll FundingCops unearth hawala cash trail in Gujarat 

    Gujarat Police and the income tax department have unearthed an extensive network of hawala traders which, according to them, is being used by a political party for the transfer of funds to meet expenses for the ensuing state elections. Sources said this particular political party was transferring huge amounts of money from Delhi to *aangadias* (hawala operators) in Gujarat who in turn facilitate its distribution across the state to the party’s cadres. Police in Gujarat and Delhi have also reportedly identified the source of funds and the main player involved in this operation in Delhi. Hawala operators have already been questioned both in Delhi and Gujarat by the police and the income tax department. According to sources, these operators have given graphic details of how black money was being transferred from Delhi by the said political party and how carriers were used in Gujarat to funnel funds to the party’s candidates and office-bearers. Sources said investigations in the case are complete and a full report is being prepared with accounts of witnesses and hawala operators involved. Arrests are likely to be made as soon as cops get the political signal. Keep watching this space to be the first to know the name of the political party involved in this hawala operation.

    Twist in the Tale

    Minister’s name pops up in arms dealer’s petition

    Fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari is locked in a court case against French defence firm Thales over a commission he claims was due to him but was not paid by the company. Bhandari’s lawsuit, filed in Paris against Thales, has already caused embarrassment to individuals and companies in India and abroad and has the potential to create legal trouble for them. Bhandari claims that Thales paid him only nine million euros instead of theagreed 20 million euros for facilitating the Indian Air Force’s 2.4-billion Mirage 2000 upgrade deal in 2011. Bhandari’s allegation spells trouble for the French government which owns around a quarter of Thales shares. He has said that Thales has created a complex web of companies to route commissions and payoffs to intermediaries in India and abroad. One such company is said to be owned by a Union minister in the present government. The said minister was reportedly a director in this company till a year before joining the government. Bhandari’s allegations are sure to find resonance in Indian political circles in the coming days. The government of India is seeking Bhandari’s extradition from the United Kingdom for his alleged “failure to declare his foreign assets under Black Money Act 2015” and “money laundering”. The Westminster Magistrates’ Court is expected to give a final decision in the extradition case on November 7 this year.

    Heads of Missions Meet
    Modi, Doval spell out a bold new approach

    Over a hundred heads of Indian missions from across the world gathered at Kevadia, the site of the giant Sardar Patel statue in the Narmada district of Gujarat, for an annual conference. The entire diplomatic corps from over a hundred countries was housed for three days in luxury tents pitched next to the statue of the Iron Man of India. The mission heads left Kevadia all fired up after listening to the stirring speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval. The PM exhorted the senior foreign service officers to dump old ways and think out of the box to promote national interest. He asked them not to be afraid of anyone as they represented a rapidly growing economy which is one of the largest in the world. He said India’s voice is heard the world over and its opinion is valued by all. Doval advised the officers not to stay stuck with old definitions and worldviews. He said times had changed and they should adapt to the changing times. Sessions were held at the conference on China, Russia, Africa, etc where the officers were brought up to speed with the government’s line on critical issues.

    Poll Funding
    Cops unearth hawala cash trail in Gujarat 

    Gujarat Police and the income tax department have unearthed an extensive network of hawala traders which, according to them, is being used by a political party for the transfer of funds to meet expenses for the ensuing state elections. Sources said this particular political party was transferring huge amounts of money from Delhi to *aangadias* (hawala operators) in Gujarat who in turn facilitate its distribution across the state to the party’s cadres. Police in Gujarat and Delhi have also reportedly identified the source of funds and the main player involved in this operation in Delhi. Hawala operators have already been questioned both in Delhi and Gujarat by the police and the income tax department. According to sources, these operators have given graphic details of how black money was being transferred from Delhi by the said political party and how carriers were used in Gujarat to funnel funds to the party’s candidates and office-bearers. Sources said investigations in the case are complete and a full report is being prepared with accounts of witnesses and hawala operators involved. Arrests are likely to be made as soon as cops get the political signal. Keep watching this space to be the first to know the name of the political party involved in this hawala operation.

    Twist in the Tale

    Minister’s name pops up in arms dealer’s petition

    Fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari is locked in a court case against French defence firm Thales over a commission he claims was due to him but was not paid by the company. Bhandari’s lawsuit, filed in Paris against Thales, has already caused embarrassment to individuals and companies in India and abroad and has the potential to create legal trouble for them. Bhandari claims that Thales paid him only nine million euros instead of theagreed 20 million euros for facilitating the Indian Air Force’s 2.4-billion Mirage 2000 upgrade deal in 2011. Bhandari’s allegation spells trouble for the French government which owns around a quarter of Thales shares. He has said that Thales has created a complex web of companies to route commissions and payoffs to intermediaries in India and abroad. One such company is said to be owned by a Union minister in the present government. The said minister was reportedly a director in this company till a year before joining the government. Bhandari’s allegations are sure to find resonance in Indian political circles in the coming days. The government of India is seeking Bhandari’s extradition from the United Kingdom for his alleged “failure to declare his foreign assets under Black Money Act 2015” and “money laundering”. The Westminster Magistrates’ Court is expected to give a final decision in the extradition case on November 7 this year.

  • Modi-Shah to lead from the front and defend fortress Gujarat

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: After the announcement of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Gujarat’s is going to be announced soon. In such a situation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power in the state for 27 years, has a big challenge to save its fort.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have taken up the responsibility of retaining BJP’S power in Gujarat.

    A few hours after the Election Commission (EC) announced the Himachal elections on Friday, a meeting was held under the leadership of the PM at his residence. The BJP leaders of Gujarat and Himachal, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and state president C.R. Patil were present in the meeting, said sources.

    According to sources, this meeting was related to the Gujarat elections. A strategy to save the throne of Gujarat was prepared in this 5-hour-long meeting. It is believed that the BJP will compete in the Gujarat elections by keeping the face of the PM in front. At the same time, Amit Shah, along with J.P. Nadda, is busy preparing the complete outline of the plan. The gathering focused on several important aspects.

    Modi-Shah to announce schemes before the EC’s model code of conduct

    There is a possibility that the EC will announce the Gujarat elections after Diwali. In the remaining 10-12 days, Modi and Shah can give many big gifts to the state. The Defence Expo, which is going to be held in Gandhinagar in Gujarat from October 18 to October 22 will be inaugrated by the Prime Minister on October 19.

    The government is expecting to have signatures on more than 400 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investments above Rs 1.25 lakh crore in this expo. Apart from this, the foundation stone of many schemes and inaugurations will also be done around Diwali in Gujarat.

    To lessen the resentment of employees and farmers

    In Gujarat, many teachers, class IV government employees, health workers, farmers, forest guards and other organisations are angry with the government and were part of protests recently. They protested for an increase in their grade pay and the implementation of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), among other demands.

    The Bhupendra Patel government has been successful in pacifying some of these, and has received instructions from the PM to dispose off the resentment still being seen in some organisations.

    Dealing with AAP’s promises and Congress’ silent propaganda

    The Gujarat Assembly elections are likely to be triangular this time. Apart from the BJP-Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also vigorously engaged in registering its presence in the state. Arvind Kejriwal, the party’s national convenor is making populist promises of providing free water, electricity as well as restoring old pension scheme of employees.

    In order to prevent the people from falling for these promises,the BJP has entrusted the central and state level leaders to go to the public and make them remember the development works of the government. Gujarat Gaurav Yatra is the beginning of the same.

    At the same time, the silence of the Congress also remains a matter of concern for the BJP. Recently, during a rally, Modi warned his workers of Congress’ silent campaign. He said that the “Congress was campaigning in villages and one should not get confused by them for not giving speeches or being seen in news”.

    To deal with this, the BJP has asked its workers to contact voters and conduct door to door campaigns. Amit Shah is also going to hold a meeting with the prominent leaders of Gujarat regarding this, said sources.

    There are 40-50 seats in Gujarat where the party seems weak in its own survey. A strategy is being prepared to bring these seats in its favour by holding more rallies with Modi and Shah. The party is also trying to strengthen its hold on the tribal seats. There are 27 seats reserved for tribals in the state. In the year 2017, the party could win only nine seats. Two seats went to the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and the remaining went to the Congress.

    Sources believe that CM Patel is not a leader with much mass base, hence the party has decided to go amongst the people with the face of Modi and the strategy of Shah.

    Gujarat has a total of 182 seats in the Assembly, out of which it is very important for any party to win 92 seats for a majority. In the 2017 elections, the BJP won 99 seats, while the Congress got 77.

    NEW DELHI: After the announcement of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Gujarat’s is going to be announced soon. In such a situation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power in the state for 27 years, has a big challenge to save its fort.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have taken up the responsibility of retaining BJP’S power in Gujarat.

    A few hours after the Election Commission (EC) announced the Himachal elections on Friday, a meeting was held under the leadership of the PM at his residence. The BJP leaders of Gujarat and Himachal, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and state president C.R. Patil were present in the meeting, said sources.

    According to sources, this meeting was related to the Gujarat elections. A strategy to save the throne of Gujarat was prepared in this 5-hour-long meeting. It is believed that the BJP will compete in the Gujarat elections by keeping the face of the PM in front. At the same time, Amit Shah, along with J.P. Nadda, is busy preparing the complete outline of the plan. The gathering focused on several important aspects.

    Modi-Shah to announce schemes before the EC’s model code of conduct

    There is a possibility that the EC will announce the Gujarat elections after Diwali. In the remaining 10-12 days, Modi and Shah can give many big gifts to the state. The Defence Expo, which is going to be held in Gandhinagar in Gujarat from October 18 to October 22 will be inaugrated by the Prime Minister on October 19.

    The government is expecting to have signatures on more than 400 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investments above Rs 1.25 lakh crore in this expo. Apart from this, the foundation stone of many schemes and inaugurations will also be done around Diwali in Gujarat.

    To lessen the resentment of employees and farmers

    In Gujarat, many teachers, class IV government employees, health workers, farmers, forest guards and other organisations are angry with the government and were part of protests recently. They protested for an increase in their grade pay and the implementation of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), among other demands.

    The Bhupendra Patel government has been successful in pacifying some of these, and has received instructions from the PM to dispose off the resentment still being seen in some organisations.

    Dealing with AAP’s promises and Congress’ silent propaganda

    The Gujarat Assembly elections are likely to be triangular this time. Apart from the BJP-Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also vigorously engaged in registering its presence in the state. Arvind Kejriwal, the party’s national convenor is making populist promises of providing free water, electricity as well as restoring old pension scheme of employees.

    In order to prevent the people from falling for these promises,the BJP has entrusted the central and state level leaders to go to the public and make them remember the development works of the government. Gujarat Gaurav Yatra is the beginning of the same.

    At the same time, the silence of the Congress also remains a matter of concern for the BJP. Recently, during a rally, Modi warned his workers of Congress’ silent campaign. He said that the “Congress was campaigning in villages and one should not get confused by them for not giving speeches or being seen in news”.

    To deal with this, the BJP has asked its workers to contact voters and conduct door to door campaigns. Amit Shah is also going to hold a meeting with the prominent leaders of Gujarat regarding this, said sources.

    There are 40-50 seats in Gujarat where the party seems weak in its own survey. A strategy is being prepared to bring these seats in its favour by holding more rallies with Modi and Shah. The party is also trying to strengthen its hold on the tribal seats. There are 27 seats reserved for tribals in the state. In the year 2017, the party could win only nine seats. Two seats went to the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and the remaining went to the Congress.

    Sources believe that CM Patel is not a leader with much mass base, hence the party has decided to go amongst the people with the face of Modi and the strategy of Shah.

    Gujarat has a total of 182 seats in the Assembly, out of which it is very important for any party to win 92 seats for a majority. In the 2017 elections, the BJP won 99 seats, while the Congress got 77.

  • SCO should create trusted supply chains; members should give each other transit rights: PM Modi

    By PTI

    SAMARKAND: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to create trusted and resilient supply chains to offset the disruptions caused by the Ukraine crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic and said the members of the grouping should give each other full transit rights to expand connectivity.

    With Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif listening, Modi, addressing the annual summit of the bloc, said India supports “greater cooperation and mutual trust” among the SCO member states even as he pitched for concerted efforts to combat terrorism.

    Modi’s emphasis on full transit rights comes amid Pakistan’s reluctance to provide such a facility to India for trade with other countries such as Afghanistan.

    Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the SCO agreed to work towards developing a unified list of terrorist, separatist and extremist organisations whose activities are prohibited on the territories of the member states.

    It is for the first time Modi and Xi came face-to-face since the start of the border standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh around 28 months back.

    In his remarks, Modi said the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis have caused many disruptions in global supply chains, leaving the world facing “unprecedented” energy and food crises.

    At a late evening media briefing, Kwatra said Modi shared India’s perspective on regional and international situations including in Afghanistan and emphasised on the centrality of the aspirations of the central asian nations in the SCO.

    The prime minister also called for greater cooperation to fight terrorism in the region including under the framework of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO (RATS SCO).

    He said Modi strongly put across India’s position on Afghanistan which essentially focused on the human-centric nature of assistance and that New Delhi favours an inclusive government in Kabul.

    The prime minister also mentioned the Chabahar port project as well as the International North-South Transport Corridor while highlighting the need for boosting regional connectivity, Kwatra said.

    In his address, Modi said the SCO, with almost 30 per cent of the global GDP and 40 per cent of the world’s population, has an important role to play in global economic recovery.

    Highlighting India’s growth trajectory, the prime minister also said that the Indian economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s largest economies.

    “India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members. The pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine have caused many disruptions in global supply chains, leaving the world facing unprecedented energy and food crises,” he said.

    “The SCO should strive to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region. For this, better connectivity will be required, as well as it will also be important that we all give full rights of transit to each other,” he said.

    At the summit, Uzbekistan handed over the rotating presidency of the eight-member SCO to India. In his address, Chinese President Xi conveyed China’s congratulations to India on assuming the SCO presidency.

    “We will, together with other member states, support India during its presidency,” he said.

    Referring to food security crisis across the globe, the prime minister pitched for the promotion of the cultivation and consumption of millets.

    “The world today faces another major challenge, and that is ensuring the food security of our citizens. One possible solution to this problem is to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets,” he said.

    ALSO READ: We want to transform India into a manufacturing hub, says PM Modi at SCO Summit

    “Millets is a superfood that has been grown for thousands of years, not only in SCO countries, but in many parts of the world, and is a traditional, nutritious and low-cost alternative to the food crisis,” Modi said.

    The prime minister said the SCO should consider organising a ‘Millet Food Festival’.

    Talking about economic cooperation, the prime minister said the role of the SCO has become very important when the whole world is facing the challenges of economic recovery after the pandemic.

    “We are making progress on making India a manufacturing hub. India’s young and talented workforce makes us naturally competitive. India’s economy is expected to grow at 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s major economies,” Modi said.

    The prime minister also talked about India’s focus on proper use of technology in its people-centric development model.

    “We are supporting innovation in every sector. Today there are over 70,000 start-ups in India, of which over 100 are unicorns. This experience of ours can be of use to many other SCO members as well,” the prime minister said.

    “For this purpose, we are ready to share our experience with the member countries of SCO by establishing a new Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation,” he added.

    The prime minister said India today is one of the most affordable destinations for medical and wellness tourism in the world.

    “The WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine was inaugurated in Gujarat in April 2022. This will be the WHO’s first and only Global Center for Traditional Medicine,” Modi said.

    “We should increase cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries. For this, India will take initiative on a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine,” he said.

    Following the summit, the leaders signed the Samarkand Declaration and adopted a package of documents.

    The SCO Heads of State Council adopted statements for cooperation in areas of climate change, reliable, sustainable and diversified supply chains, and on ensuring global food security and international energy security.

    The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

    SAMARKAND: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to create trusted and resilient supply chains to offset the disruptions caused by the Ukraine crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic and said the members of the grouping should give each other full transit rights to expand connectivity.

    With Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif listening, Modi, addressing the annual summit of the bloc, said India supports “greater cooperation and mutual trust” among the SCO member states even as he pitched for concerted efforts to combat terrorism.

    Modi’s emphasis on full transit rights comes amid Pakistan’s reluctance to provide such a facility to India for trade with other countries such as Afghanistan.

    Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the SCO agreed to work towards developing a unified list of terrorist, separatist and extremist organisations whose activities are prohibited on the territories of the member states.

    It is for the first time Modi and Xi came face-to-face since the start of the border standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh around 28 months back.

    In his remarks, Modi said the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis have caused many disruptions in global supply chains, leaving the world facing “unprecedented” energy and food crises.

    At a late evening media briefing, Kwatra said Modi shared India’s perspective on regional and international situations including in Afghanistan and emphasised on the centrality of the aspirations of the central asian nations in the SCO.

    The prime minister also called for greater cooperation to fight terrorism in the region including under the framework of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO (RATS SCO).

    He said Modi strongly put across India’s position on Afghanistan which essentially focused on the human-centric nature of assistance and that New Delhi favours an inclusive government in Kabul.

    The prime minister also mentioned the Chabahar port project as well as the International North-South Transport Corridor while highlighting the need for boosting regional connectivity, Kwatra said.

    In his address, Modi said the SCO, with almost 30 per cent of the global GDP and 40 per cent of the world’s population, has an important role to play in global economic recovery.

    Highlighting India’s growth trajectory, the prime minister also said that the Indian economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s largest economies.

    “India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members. The pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine have caused many disruptions in global supply chains, leaving the world facing unprecedented energy and food crises,” he said.

    “The SCO should strive to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region. For this, better connectivity will be required, as well as it will also be important that we all give full rights of transit to each other,” he said.

    At the summit, Uzbekistan handed over the rotating presidency of the eight-member SCO to India. In his address, Chinese President Xi conveyed China’s congratulations to India on assuming the SCO presidency.

    “We will, together with other member states, support India during its presidency,” he said.

    Referring to food security crisis across the globe, the prime minister pitched for the promotion of the cultivation and consumption of millets.

    “The world today faces another major challenge, and that is ensuring the food security of our citizens. One possible solution to this problem is to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets,” he said.

    ALSO READ: We want to transform India into a manufacturing hub, says PM Modi at SCO Summit

    “Millets is a superfood that has been grown for thousands of years, not only in SCO countries, but in many parts of the world, and is a traditional, nutritious and low-cost alternative to the food crisis,” Modi said.

    The prime minister said the SCO should consider organising a ‘Millet Food Festival’.

    Talking about economic cooperation, the prime minister said the role of the SCO has become very important when the whole world is facing the challenges of economic recovery after the pandemic.

    “We are making progress on making India a manufacturing hub. India’s young and talented workforce makes us naturally competitive. India’s economy is expected to grow at 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s major economies,” Modi said.

    The prime minister also talked about India’s focus on proper use of technology in its people-centric development model.

    “We are supporting innovation in every sector. Today there are over 70,000 start-ups in India, of which over 100 are unicorns. This experience of ours can be of use to many other SCO members as well,” the prime minister said.

    “For this purpose, we are ready to share our experience with the member countries of SCO by establishing a new Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation,” he added.

    The prime minister said India today is one of the most affordable destinations for medical and wellness tourism in the world.

    “The WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine was inaugurated in Gujarat in April 2022. This will be the WHO’s first and only Global Center for Traditional Medicine,” Modi said.

    “We should increase cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries. For this, India will take initiative on a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine,” he said.

    Following the summit, the leaders signed the Samarkand Declaration and adopted a package of documents.

    The SCO Heads of State Council adopted statements for cooperation in areas of climate change, reliable, sustainable and diversified supply chains, and on ensuring global food security and international energy security.

    The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

  • Varanasi declared as first ever SCO tourist and cultural capital

    By PTI

    SAMARKAND: The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Friday endorsed the holy city of Varanasi as the first ever tourist and cultural capital of the grouping for the year 2022-23.

    Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said this at a media briefing. The Indian delegation at the SCO summit in this historic Uzbek city of Samarkand was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Uzbekistan handed over the rotating presidency of the grouping to India for the year 2022-23.

    “Prime Minister Modi thanked all the member states for endorsing Varanasi as the first ever SCO tourist and cultural capital during the upcoming year 2022-23,” Kwatra said.

    “This is a befitting recognition of the historic city and opens the door for greater cultural and people-to-people ties between India and the region,” he said.

    The foreign secretary said several events would be organised by the Uttar Pradesh government in collaboration with the Centre to celebrate this recognition of Varanasi.

    Kwatra said the SCO also decided to set up a special working group on start-ups and innovation at India’s initiative. India would be its permanent chair, he said. The summit also decided to give permanent membership of SCO to Belarus and Iran.

    The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became their permanent members in 2017.

    SAMARKAND: The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Friday endorsed the holy city of Varanasi as the first ever tourist and cultural capital of the grouping for the year 2022-23.

    Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said this at a media briefing. The Indian delegation at the SCO summit in this historic Uzbek city of Samarkand was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Uzbekistan handed over the rotating presidency of the grouping to India for the year 2022-23.

    “Prime Minister Modi thanked all the member states for endorsing Varanasi as the first ever SCO tourist and cultural capital during the upcoming year 2022-23,” Kwatra said.

    “This is a befitting recognition of the historic city and opens the door for greater cultural and people-to-people ties between India and the region,” he said.

    The foreign secretary said several events would be organised by the Uttar Pradesh government in collaboration with the Centre to celebrate this recognition of Varanasi.

    Kwatra said the SCO also decided to set up a special working group on start-ups and innovation at India’s initiative. India would be its permanent chair, he said. The summit also decided to give permanent membership of SCO to Belarus and Iran.

    The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became their permanent members in 2017.

  • ‘Modi government has 2 brothers — unemployment and inflation’, says Congress 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday took a dig at the Centre on the issue of price rise, saying unemployment and inflation were “two brothers” of the Modi government.

    Ahead of Sunday’s ‘Mehngai par halla bol’ rally of the party at the Ramlila Maidan here, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the rally was not being held to canvas for the 2024 polls, but to highlight the two “biggest challenges” of inflation and unemployment to the people.

    “We had protested against this even on August 5. About 70 MPs were detained, including Rahul Gandhi. People from 12-13 states are coming and we want to send an effective message to the insensitive Modi government that people are suffering from this back-breaking inflation and unemployment and solutions should be found for them,” Ramesh said.

    Asked about Ghulam Nabi Azad’s rally in Jammu on Sunday, Ramesh said he would speak about the Congress rally, not that of the BJP.

    On BJP’s allegation that the Congress was trying to divert people’s attention from the issue of corruption, Ramesh said the party has been protesting against rising prices for over a year.

    ALSO READ | At ‘Mehngai par halla bol’ protest rally, Congress workers demand Rahul Gandhi as chief

    “A rally was held in Jaipur. About 70 MPs were detained from Vijay Chowk. We have raised these issues inside and outside Parliament. We have held protests in various states. This rally is part of that series of protests.”

    “On September 7, we will begin the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ which too will have the economic disparity as the biggest issue,” Ramesh said.

    “Modi government has two brothers- unemployment and inflation. Modi government has two brothers- ED and CBI,” the Congress leader went on to say.

    Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and a host of party leaders are slated to address the rally.

    Party workers from Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, and other parts of the country, are converging for the event.

    The rally comes ahead of the opposition party’s 3,500-km ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ which will traverse the length of the country from Kanyakumari to Kashmir starting on September 7.

    Congress has said the rally’s aim is to highlight the issues of price hikes and unemployment and to promote communal harmony in the country.

    The party said its workers will continue to raise these issues as a responsible opposition and will take to the streets to fight for the cause of the common people.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday took a dig at the Centre on the issue of price rise, saying unemployment and inflation were “two brothers” of the Modi government.

    Ahead of Sunday’s ‘Mehngai par halla bol’ rally of the party at the Ramlila Maidan here, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the rally was not being held to canvas for the 2024 polls, but to highlight the two “biggest challenges” of inflation and unemployment to the people.

    “We had protested against this even on August 5. About 70 MPs were detained, including Rahul Gandhi. People from 12-13 states are coming and we want to send an effective message to the insensitive Modi government that people are suffering from this back-breaking inflation and unemployment and solutions should be found for them,” Ramesh said.

    Asked about Ghulam Nabi Azad’s rally in Jammu on Sunday, Ramesh said he would speak about the Congress rally, not that of the BJP.

    On BJP’s allegation that the Congress was trying to divert people’s attention from the issue of corruption, Ramesh said the party has been protesting against rising prices for over a year.

    ALSO READ | At ‘Mehngai par halla bol’ protest rally, Congress workers demand Rahul Gandhi as chief

    “A rally was held in Jaipur. About 70 MPs were detained from Vijay Chowk. We have raised these issues inside and outside Parliament. We have held protests in various states. This rally is part of that series of protests.”

    “On September 7, we will begin the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ which too will have the economic disparity as the biggest issue,” Ramesh said.

    “Modi government has two brothers- unemployment and inflation. Modi government has two brothers- ED and CBI,” the Congress leader went on to say.

    Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and a host of party leaders are slated to address the rally.

    Party workers from Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, and other parts of the country, are converging for the event.

    The rally comes ahead of the opposition party’s 3,500-km ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ which will traverse the length of the country from Kanyakumari to Kashmir starting on September 7.

    Congress has said the rally’s aim is to highlight the issues of price hikes and unemployment and to promote communal harmony in the country.

    The party said its workers will continue to raise these issues as a responsible opposition and will take to the streets to fight for the cause of the common people.

  • PM Modi’s total assets rise by Rs 26 lakh to Rs 2.23 crore; land holding donated 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi owns assets worth over Rs 2.23 crore, mostly as bank deposits, but has no immovable properties as he has donated his share in a piece of land in Gandhinagar, according to his latest disclosure about assets.

    He has no investment in any bond, share or mutual funds, does not own any vehicle, but has four gold rings valued at Rs 1.73 lakh, according to his declaration updated till March 31.

    Modi’s movable assets rose by Rs 26.13 lakh from a year ago, but he no longer owns the immovable assets which were worth Rs 1.1 crore as on March 31, 2021.

    His assets total Rs 2,23,82,504 as on March 31, 2022, according to details uploaded on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website.

    The residential plot he jointly held with three other owners, each having an equal share, was purchased by him in October 2002 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

    The latest update said, “Immovable property Survey No. 401/A was jointly held with three other joint owners and each having an equal share of 25 per cent is no more owned by the self as the same has been donated.”

    The cash in hand with the prime minister as on March 31, 2022 was Rs 35,250 and his National Savings Certificates with post office were worth Rs 9,05,105 and had life insurance policies valued Rs 1,89,305.

    Among the prime minister’s Cabinet colleagues who have declared their assets, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has movables worth Rs 2.54 crore and immovable assets worth 2.97 crore as on March 31, 2022.

    Of all the 29 Cabinet ministers, the ones who have declared their own and their dependents’ assets for the last fiscal also include Dharmendra Pradhan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, R K Singh, Hardeep Singh Puri, Parshottam Rupala and G Kishan Reddy.

    Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who was a Cabinet minister in the last fiscal and demitted office in July, has also declared his assets.

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi owns assets worth over Rs 2.23 crore, mostly as bank deposits, but has no immovable properties as he has donated his share in a piece of land in Gandhinagar, according to his latest disclosure about assets.

    He has no investment in any bond, share or mutual funds, does not own any vehicle, but has four gold rings valued at Rs 1.73 lakh, according to his declaration updated till March 31.

    Modi’s movable assets rose by Rs 26.13 lakh from a year ago, but he no longer owns the immovable assets which were worth Rs 1.1 crore as on March 31, 2021.

    His assets total Rs 2,23,82,504 as on March 31, 2022, according to details uploaded on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website.

    The residential plot he jointly held with three other owners, each having an equal share, was purchased by him in October 2002 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

    The latest update said, “Immovable property Survey No. 401/A was jointly held with three other joint owners and each having an equal share of 25 per cent is no more owned by the self as the same has been donated.”

    The cash in hand with the prime minister as on March 31, 2022 was Rs 35,250 and his National Savings Certificates with post office were worth Rs 9,05,105 and had life insurance policies valued Rs 1,89,305.

    Among the prime minister’s Cabinet colleagues who have declared their assets, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has movables worth Rs 2.54 crore and immovable assets worth 2.97 crore as on March 31, 2022.

    Of all the 29 Cabinet ministers, the ones who have declared their own and their dependents’ assets for the last fiscal also include Dharmendra Pradhan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, R K Singh, Hardeep Singh Puri, Parshottam Rupala and G Kishan Reddy.

    Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who was a Cabinet minister in the last fiscal and demitted office in July, has also declared his assets.

  • New Forest conservation Rules Spark a fight

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The debate over the new Forest Conservation Rules brought in by the Central government is heating up ahead of Parliament’s monsoon session. Some fireworks are expected in the two Houses when the government places it for approval, with Congress readying its arsenal to mount an attack on the Modi government for trying to ‘dispossess’ tribals of their rights even as it seeks to bolster its pro-ST credentials by nominating Droupadi Murmu, who belongs to the Santhal tribe, as presidential candidate. 

    The government, of course, refutes the charge. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda alleged that the Congress allegations were “just a futile attempt to divert the attention from the fact that NDA’s presidential candidate is a tribal lady”. Here’s a look at the rules that have triggered a verbal spat between the two sides:

    New rules to ‘streamline’ green clearance process 

    The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the Forest Conservation Rules, 2022 on June 28, that will replace the earlier rules notified in 2003

    The new rules will be placed for approval of both Houses of Parliament in the coming monsoon session

    What is the change?

    The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, popularly known as the Forest Rights Act, 2006, confers land and livelihood rights both individual and community to tribal, Dalit and other families living in forest areas. Under the law, FRA compliance is mandatory before clearance is accorded for diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes
    The Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, delinks mandatory FRA compliance for seeking forest clearance for infrastructure projects and puts onus on states/UTs to ensure that it is complied with before the forest land is handed over to the project proponent   
    How will the new rules affect tribal rights?The new rules allow the Union government to permit the clearing of a forest for a project before prior consent of the forest dwellers, as mandated under the 2006 Act

    Opposition’s charge

    The new rules will dilute Forest Rights Act, 2006
    Will disempower forest tribals and may displace them
    Once forest clearance is accorded, dwellers’ claims of resettlement will be ignored
    States will be under greater pressure from Centre to accelerate land diversion process
    Centre’s claim

    New rules do not dilute or infringe on the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006
    They have been promulgated to streamline approval process
    Will allow parallel processing of the proposals and eliminate the redundant processes
    States/UTs can ensure compliance of the FRA “at any stage”

  • Congress says  ‘undeclared emergency” in Delhi, ‘Satyagrah’ to continue 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s appearance before the Enforcement Directorate, the Congress on Monday said the Modi government has imposed an “undeclared emergency” in Delhi and alleged that thousands of its workers and leaders have been arrested or placed under house arrest.

    Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked why the Modi government was scared of Rahul Gandhi or the Congress as they only planned to march towards the ED’s office when their leader appears before the agency for questioning.

    He said Congress is fighting for the truth, which cannot be suppressed and they will continue with this fight against “injustice”.

    “The Modi government has imposed an undeclared emergency in Delhi and thousands of barricades have come up and thousands of our Congress workers have been arrested since last night,” he told reporters.

    ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi ED row: Delhi Police impose sec 144 Code ahead of Congress march

    “We will answer every question that the ‘Election Department’, the ‘puppet ED’ will ask. For, the truth will win in the court of untruth and tyranny,” he said.

    Surjewala alleged that the “descendants of Godse” are once again challenging Gandhi and his descendants. “Neither Godse could kill Gandhi nor will his descendants be able to kill his ideology today,” he said.

    Asking why thousands of policemen have been deployed in central Delhi ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the ED office, he said, “Is there any threat to the Modi government? Why are you so scared?” Surjewala alleged that a “scared and cowardly” Modi government is trying to suppress the voice of the truth.

    ALSO READ| Congress Satyagraha over ED summons to Gandhis a big drama: BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra

    “We will continue our ‘Satyagrah’ fearlessly against the undeterred draconian subjugation of civil rights and democracy by the Modi government. We will fight undeterred, we will fight fearlessly and we will fight for the people of the country, the downtrodden and the middle class against all-around inflation and joblessness,” he said.

    The Congress leader accused the BJP of hiding behind the police. “Why does the BJP fear Rahul Gandhi so much. Why is the BJP so scared, we are only walking to the ED office,” he asked.

    “Cowards are those who are firing from behind the police. Whenever the BJP fears, they hide behind the police. The British also used to hide behind the police during the freedom struggle,” Surjewala said.

    Rahul Gandhi has been summoned by the ED in a money laundering case pertaining to the National Herald-AJL case. The ED has also summoned Sonia Gandhi in the case on June 23.