INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 1 A W e e k l y N e w s p a p e r Fe a t u r i n g N e w s & Tr e n d s f r o m t h e I n d i a n S u b - C o n t i n e n t P u b l i s h e d f r o m t h e U S C a p i t a l Website: www.indiathisweek.online Vol. 30 No: 37 • WASHINGTON D.C • Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 • e-mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday • September 16, 2022 India, France agree to work towards establishment of IndoPacific trilateral development cooperation: Jaishankar New Delhi [India], September 14 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that India and France agreed to work towards the establishment of Indo-Pacific trilateral development cooperation. Addressing a press conference along with his French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna in New Delhi, Jaishankar said that the Indo-Pacific trilateral is expected to provide a platform for Indian innovations and startups to demonstrate their relevance to the requirements of other societies. “The French have a long-standing presence on either extremity of the Indo-Pacific. Hearing Minister Colonna’s views and assessments of those regions was truly of great value. We agreed to establish Indo-Pacific trilateral development cooperation that would facilitate development projects, especially in the framework of the International Solar Alliance,” Jaishankar said. “One reflection of the expanding comfort between India and France is the interest in creating a trilateral format with other partners. I referred earlier to our cooperation on development issues in the Indo-Pacific. We also look forward to the meeting of India, France, Australia, trilateral in New York later in the month with our colleague Penny Wong. Another trilateral with the UAE will also be upgraded to the ministerial level, given the positive feedback,” he added. Jaishankar spoke about the collaboration between India and France on joint projects in the International Solar Alliance in three countries namely Bhutan, Papua New Guinea and Senegal. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna while talking about France and India relations said: “In 75 years of diplomatic relations, France and India have always supported each other. Even in the toughest of times, we have never failed each other. In today’s world, such a level of solidarity and reform creating a carbon market, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code served as the driving force for India,” Sanjeev Sanyal told ANI. He stressed that many of these reforms happened before the COVID crisis and then through the pandemic despite all the disruptions, continuing with supplyside measures, opening up new sectors, privatization and of course, building infrastructure pushed India into the world’s top five largest economies. “An important part of this is maintaining macroeconomic discipline through it all, despite the obvious stresses of the COVID crisis. So I think these are the whole gamut of reasons I would say this is the main driving force that has allowed India to emerge as the world’s fastest-growing economy,” he added. Responding to a Morgan Stanley report which says that India’s prudent fiscal policy has paid of while the US, and Europe’s massive stimulus backfired, Sanyal said, “I made the point right during the pandemic, that it is no point in pressing the accelerator if you have your foot firmly on the brake. So the pandemic was first and foremost a supply shock. There were demand-side spillovers, no doubt about it but it was first and foremost a supplyside shock. So there was no point in simply sending out stimulus checks and using up all your ammunition on that when all the avenues for spending that money were shut down and under lockdown for health reasons.” Sanyal said that the central government’s focus was always on supporting the very poor and vulnerable sections of the business community like SMEs. He also outlined that supply-side reforms were also done which added in the combination and all these factors have helped India’s economy emerge reasonably healthily out of the crisis. Sanyal said, “We do have some pressure on inflation. Much of that is coming in from various shocks outside our control, like global oil prices and disruptions to global weather systems. As far as our own domestic economy is concerned, I think core inflation remains well behaved.” He also stressed that India’s economic system and capacities are well in position to respond, should demand grows. Talking about the FDI inflows, Sanyal said, “We have seen solid foreign direct investment flows in recent years. India has certainly emerged as a major centre for services exports and virtually every major company around the world now has a back office or a development centre or something like that here in India.” “India’s domestic market is also attractive and then there are portfolio inflows which in nature are volatile we have seen good inflows happening in recent months. I think investors appreciate the macroeconomic stability that, you know, this government has been willing to impose even in difficult situations,” he trust is rare and precious,”. “In the field of defence, of course. No other country is ready to share its most advanced defence technologies with India as much as France. And we are proud to be one of your very first defence partners, not only in industrial terms but also in operational ones. Our armed forces are now conducting joint patrols, which is a major step forward,” Colonna added while calling French one of the first defence partners to India. Colonna is visiting India from September 1415 and she aims to move forward with an ambitious plan to deepen and expand the Indo-French strategic partnership ahead of its 25th anniversary next year. (ANI) How India joined ranks of top 5 economies of the world By Shailesh Yadav New Delhi [India], September 14 (ANI): Member Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Sanjeev Sanyal listed the reasons and driving forces which pushed India into the fifth largest economy, surpassing the United Kingdom. Sanyal highlighted that ‘cumulative effort over several years is now paying dividends.’ “Structural supply-side reforms over several years, going back to the imposition of macroeconomic stability with the inflation targeting framework, then the GST Remember: “The COUNTRY is controlled by LAWS> LAWS are controlled by POLITICIANS> POLITICIANS are controlled by VOTERS> VOTERS are controlled by PUBLIC OPINION> PUBLIC OPINION is controlled by the MEDIA (News, Hollywood, Internet...) & EDUCATION. So, whoever controls MEDIA & EDUCATION, controls the COUNTRY.” William J Federer added. His remarks came after India on September 3, beat the United Kingdom and became the fifth largest economy in the world. As per the International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, India overtook the United Kingdom in the final three months of 2021 to become the fifth largest economy in the world, according to a media report. Now India is just behind four countries in terms of the size of the economy in terms of dollar terms. The countries whose economy size is bigger than India are: the United States, China, Japan and Germany. The UK is now behind India in the sixth position.
September 16, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK India-made chips will substantially bring down prices of electronic devices, laptops, says Vedanta group chairman Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], September 14 (ANI): The VedantaFoxconn joint venture will invest Rs 1.54 lakh crore to set up its display fabrication and semiconductor facility in Gujarat following an MoU signed with the state government and India will emerge as a chip maker with its own Silicon Valley, reducing the cost of dailyuse electronic gadgets to a huge extent, Anil Agarwal, founder and chairman of Vedanta group, has said. “This project will createarobustmanufacturing base in India on the lines of vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will also make India reduce its electronic imports,” he said. The MoU was signed on Tuesday. He said the semiconductor project will give direct employment to one lakh people in Gujarat and will help reduce the cost of mobiles and laptops. “All the countries of the world are looking at Taiwan as it has both glass and semiconductor and we will soon start producing the semiconductor chip in India,” he said on Tuesday. Foxconn is a Taiwanese multinational electronics manufacturer. The Vedanta group chairman said that the investment will foster an ecosystem for the production of electronic devices. “How will our education system become advanced? How will our children progress. They need laptops and cell phones. The weaker sections cannot afford to spend Rs 15000 – 20000. It has two raw materials – glass and semiconductor. Rest all thing can be made in our country by our start-ups and factories. What I am dreaming of is clusters all around this. I want to tell the youngsters, stop asking for jobs, and instead, start creating jobs for others. A hub of glass and semi- conductors is going to develop,” he said. The Vedanta chairman also said Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka offered good infrastructure and noted that bringing the project to Gujarat was an independent decision without any influence. India will be the fourth country in the world to manufacture semiconductor chips, he said. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said during the event marking the signing of the MoU on Tuesday that it is PM Modi’s vision to establish India as a global manufacturing hub and a major player in the semiconductor supply chain. Under PM Modi’s visionary leadership, the Government of India has taken several key initiatives to reduce the dependence on imports of electronic goods by giving impetus to domestic manufacturing of electronic, semiconductor products and components, the minister said. Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel welcomed the Vedanta and Foxconn Group’s mega investment in the state. He said this huge investment coming on the day when his government completes one year also is a testimony to the policy stability and policy support coupled with good governance and excellent infrastructure facilities existing in Gujarat. The CM also assured all necessary support from the Government and remarked that the Vedanta and Foxconn group will get with red carpet in Gujarat instead of any red tape. (ANI)
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September 16, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Delhi: Five injured after under-construction building collapses in Azad Market area New Delhi [India], September 9 (ANI): Five people were injured after an under-construction building collapsed in Delhi’s Azad Market area on Friday, police said. According to a statement released here, the injured persons were identified as Ajiju Rehman (44), Congresh Yadav (34), Jamil (45), Amarjeet Yadav (21) and Nitesh (29). On local inquiry, it was found that some people have been sent to Hindu Rao Hospital who were rescued from the spot. Intimation to Fire brigade, MCD, CAT Ambulance, DDMA, NDRF, Crime team, and SDM Team was given immediately, they said. Sufi Rustam Ilahi Hashmi, a local resident, told ANI, “he was going somewhere at 8.30 am in the morning, suddenly building collapsed, he reached the spot and rescued two persons alone and after three persons with people and he rushed all injured to hospital.” According to NDRF’s Inspector Deepu Singh, “There was a fourstorey building wherer construction work was going on. There is a very narrow street, so the rescue operation is getting a bit difficult, due to which it is taking more time. Debris removal work is going on, one lane was blocked after the building collapsed, 10 to 12 people were stuck in a house, so rescued them.” BJP MP Dr Harsh Vardhan also reached there and told ANI, “I came to know that the building has collapsed in my area, so I have come here to see, five people have been injured, I want them to get well soon. Was the building legal or illegal, only the officials concerned can tell.” (ANI) Unnao (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 10 (ANI): In a tragic incident during the immersion of Ganesh idols, two children drowned to death while one succumbed in the hospital in Unnao, said the officials on Friday. The third child was declared dead at the hospital while undergoing treatment. As per reports, the children had gone to immerse the Lord Ganesha idols in the river Ganga. “Two children drowned to death, while a third died during treatment in Unnao. They had gone for the immersion of Lord Ganesh idols today in river Ganga in Kotwali Safipur area when the incident took place,” said police. The 10-day illustrious Ganesh Chathurthi festival came to an end on Friday. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with much pomp and zeal in several states across the country and 2022 marked the return of its celebration after 2 years of COVIDinduced restrictions. Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha. It is one of the most popular Hindu festivals. It is celebrated for 10 days and it is believed that during this time, Lord Ganesha arrives on earth with his mother, Goddess Parvati and showers blessings on the people. “On the account of Ganesh idol immersion, the government has decided a general holiday,” an official statement said. (ANI) UP: 3 children drown during Ganesh idol immersion in Unnao
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It’s packed with over 40 pages of great information, such as: Call 1-888-718-7402 or visit us at DMVSeniorLiving.com. • Services to enhance your health and well-being • Resort-style amenities, including delicious dining • Stylish, modern apartment homes to fit your lifestyle 464040 • Financial peace of mind and unbeatable value India number one country for sending students to US colleges, Universities: Minister Counsellor for Consular Affairs By Ayushi Agarwal New Delhi [India], September 14 (ANI): Hailing the US recent achievements of issuing over 82,000 student visas this summer, Don Heflin, Minister Counsellor for Consular Affairs US Embassy in New Delhi said India is the number one country for sending students to United States colleges and universities. Last week, US diplomatic missions in India issued a recordbreaking 82,000 student visas between May and June 2022 – more than to any other country in the world. “We issued 82,000 student visas this summer which is a record for us. Last year we set a record of issuing 62000 and the interesting thing is that this year because of the Covid related problems in other countries, India is the number one country for sending students to US colleges and Universities,” Heflin told ANI in an exclusive interview. When asked if he is okay with using agents for booking slots, Heflin said that there is nothing illegal about it but he stressed staying away from fake documents and false statements. “There is nothing illegal about it. I don’t think you need an agent just to book a slot with us. Hopefully, they are providing some other advising services. One caution that we would give people when you talk to anyone who tries to sell you a package of fake documents or tells you to make false statements, just walk out immediately because that can get you in real trouble in your student visas”, Heflin added. Responding to the question of complaints about the system locking you out if you keep checking and if there is any way to avoid getting locked, Don advised people to check the website two or three times a day to prevent locking you out. “We advise people to check our site two or three times a day. That won’t get you locked out and appointments go so fast that if you are checking two or three times a day, you miss them. If you check them over and over and over and watch out for 72 hours then it’s really a bummer and we don’t like that happen to people,” he said. Stressing further on complaints of various students travelling to Chennai and other consulates for the appointment, Heflin said that by the next summer they may have 100 per cent staffing so that things should even out. “This is a result of when Covid froze everything up. We have different global advice consuls in different places. So, people rushing for appointments and people flew across the country. Now, we don’t mind that when it’s a Business person or maybe a Graduate student, maybe an H1 worker. By the next summer, we’re going to be much closer to 100% staffing. So, things should even out. We think that they will get the appointment at the consul, nearest to their home”. Responding to the question if students need visa stamping who are in the US on an OPT (Optional Practical Training), Heflin said that this summer we started with dropbox appointments, for students which they have never been able to do before. “This gets really confusing our graduates. If you’re in the US on OPT and you’re in status with your school and with the immigration service, you don’t have to get a new visa unless you want to leave the country. If you’re not leaving the country, you’re perfectly legal to keep know what you’re doing. But if You’re gonna leave the country, you need to come back here and get a visa. Now, the good news is that this summer, we started with Dropbox appointments for students, which we’ve never been able to do before, and that means somebody in that situation, could grab a Dropbox appointment. They don’t go as fast as the first times, but you can grab a dropbox appointment, and then build their trip to India around that”, added Heflin. In a statement last week, the US Mission in India had said that it has issued a record-breaking 82,000 student visas to Indians in 2022 to date. Indian students have received more US student visas than any other country, including China. The embassy also said that the US Embassy in New Delhi and four consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai prioritized the processing of student visa applications from May to August to ensure that as many qualified students as possible made it to their programs of study in time for scheduled start dates. Charge d’Affaires Patricia Lacina hailed the US Mission in India‘s achievement commenting, “We are happy to see so many students were able to receive visas and reach their universities after the delays caused in previous years by the COVID-19 pandemic.” Indian students comprise nearly 20 per cent of all international students studying in the United States, with the Open Doors report in 2021 showing there were 167,582 students from India in the 2020-2021 academic year. The United States has remained open and welcoming to international students throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the US government and US highereducation institutions implemented measures to safely welcome international students in person, online, and via hybrid learning methods, guaranteeing that opportunities and resources to international students remained robust. (ANI)
September 16, 2022 By Reena Bhardwaj Friday INDIA THIS WEEK US defence chief discusses ‘security developments’ with Rajnath Singh Washington [US], September 14 (ANI): US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday held a discussion with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over a range of recent security developments of shared interest, including in East Asia, the Indian Ocean Region. Sources told ANI, that the telephonic call was initiated by the US side. It was a follow-up call after the “successful” India-US 2+2 Intersessional and Maritime Security Dialogues in New Delhi last week. The telephonic call came on the heels of a “productive set of engagements in New Delhi” last week for the 2+2 Intersessional and Maritime Security Dialogues, according to a statement issued by the US Department of Defence. “Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Indian Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh today to discuss a range of recent security developments of shared interest, including in East Asia, the Indian Ocean Region, and beyond. Their call came on the heels of a productive set of engagements in New Delhi last week for the 2+2 Intersessional and Maritime Security Dialogues,” a statement issued by the US Department of Defense. Rajnath Singh raised India’s concern at the decision of the US to provide a sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet. “Had a warm and productive telephonic conversation with the US Secretary of Defence, Mr Lloyd Austin. We discussed the growing convergence of strategic interests and enhanced defence & security cooperation. @SecDef,” he said in a tweet. “I conveyed India’s concern at the recent US decision to provide a sustenance package for Pakistan’s F16 fleet. Look forward to continuing dialogue with Secretary Austin to further consolidating India-US partnership,” he added. Meanwhile, in the statement, the Secretary congratulated Rajnath Singh on the commissioning of the INS Vikrant, noting the significance of the event for India’s role as a security provider in the Indo-Pacific. The two defence leaders expressed commitment to expanding information-sharing and logistics cooperation as the US and Indian militaries operate and coordinate more closely together. “In light of the evolving regional security environment, the two defence leaders committed to expanding information-sharing and logistics cooperation as the U.S. and Indian militaries operate and coordinate more closely together. Secretary Austin expressed his support for additional midvoyage repairs of U.S. Navy ships in India following the historic visit of the USNS Charles Drew to Chennai in August,” it said. Both of them agreed to initiate a dialogue later this year to deepen bilateral collaboration in space, cyber, artificial intelligence, and other new defence domains. S e c r e t a r y Austin and Minister The Poet’s Pen President Murmu to From THIS WEEK- September 9, 2022 INDIA attend State Funeral of LORD, MAKE A REGULAR MAN OUT OF ME By Edgar a Guest Queen Elizabeth II This I would like to be-braver and bolder, Just a bit wiser because I am older, Just a bit kinder to those I may meet, Just a bit manlier taking defeat; This for the New Year my wish and my pleaLord, make a regular man out of me. New Delhi [India], September 14 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu will visit London, UK from September 17-19 to attend the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and offer condolences on behalf of the Indian government.“Queen Elizabeth II, the former head of state of the UK and Head of the Commonwealth of Nations passed away on 8 September. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed condolences at the demise of Queen Elizabeth II. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar visited the British High Commission in New Delhi on 12 September to convey India’s condolences. India also observed a day of national mourning on Sunday, 11 September,” read the Ministry of External Affairs statement. The statement added in the 70 years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, India-UK ties have evolved, flourished and strengthened immensely. She played an important role in the welfare of millions of people worldwide as Head of the Commonwealth. This I would like to be-just a bit finer, More of a smiler and less of a whiner, Just a bit quicker to stretch out my hand Helping another who’s struggling to stand, This is my prayer for the New Year to be, Lord, make regular man out of me. This I would like to be-just a bit fairer, Just a bit better, and just a bit squarer, Not quite so ready to censure and blame, Quicker to help every man in the game, Not quite so eager men’s failings to see, Lord, make a regular man out of me, This I would like to be-just bit truer, Loss of the wisher and more of the doer, Broader and bigger, more willing to give, Living and helping my neighbor to live! This for the New Year my prayer and my pleaLord’ make a regular man out of me. Singh highlighted their commitmenttostrengthening defence technology and industrial cooperation to support India’s rise as an industry leader and regional security provider. Both leaders also underscored the value of advancing cooperation through the Quad partnership to sustain regional peace, stability, and prosperity, including through coordinated humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The two leaders committed to an ambitious set of initiatives leading up to the 2+2 Ministerial in India early next year, as the United States and India work to expand the depth and breadth of their cooperation swiftly. They concluded the call by reaffirming the centrality of the US-India defence partnership to their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the statement said. (ANI) INDIA THIS WEEK Address: P.O. Box 352Bryans Road, MD 20616 Phone: 301-917-4800; 301-445-0200 301-445-3543; 301-685-1800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are solely those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor either by mail to the above address or by e-mail provided below. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Asst. Editors: Special Business Correspondent Business Coordinators Special Correspondent: Community Coordinator: India Office Columnists: World Religions Photo Journalist: System Admn. & Maintenance: Layout & Graphics: Business Affairs: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Elisha B. Pulivarti Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Geeta Goindi Prof. Vinod Goel Manish Krishna Anadi Naik Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Mathew Karmel, Rajan C. George Prinston Samuel, Mrs. Molly George Advertisements: ADV Solutions Inc. Tel: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 301-445-3543, 301-685-1800 e-Mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Letters, Comments, Press Releases: indiathisweek@gmail.com
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September 16, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Tamil Nadu: Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to father Rajiv Gandhi ahead of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 7 (ANI): Ahead of starting the muchhyped ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attended a prayer meeting at the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial in Sriperumbudur on Wednesday. Rahul Gandhi paid floral tribute at his father’s memorial. Sriperumbudur is where his father Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in a bomb blast on May 21, 1991, while campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls. Local Congress leaders including Karnataka state party chief DK Shivakumar were present at the prayer meeting. After the prayer meet, Rahul Gandhi left for Kanyakumari where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will present him the Tricolour. The Congress leader will address a rally while officially kickstarting the Bharat Jodo Yatra. In what is being seen as a Congress’ “masterstroke” to take on the Narendra Modi government in the upcoming 2024 elections, the party is launching the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ today in which Rahul Gandhi will start the 3,570 km journey lasting about 150 days from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. As the party begins the nationwide yatra, some pertinent questions arise about the lodging and flooding of Rahul Gandhi. However, the party has made it clear that he will not stay in any hotel but rather will complete the entire journey in a simple manner. Rahul Gandhi is going to stay in the container for the next 150 days. Sleeping beds, toilets and AC are also installed in some of the containers. During the journey, the temperature and environment will differ in many areas. The arrangements have been made keeping in view the intense heat and humidity with the change of places. “About 60 such containers have been prepared and sent to Kanyakumari where a village has been set up in which all these containers have been placed. The container will be parked in a new place every day in the shape of a village for night rest. Full-time Yatris who stay with Rahul Gandhi will eat together and stay close,” said the sources. The sources further said that Rahul Gandhi considers the Bharat Jodo Yatra journey as a way to connect with the common people. “So he wants to complete this entire journey in a simple way away from the glitz and glamour. Rahul Gandhi calls it a journey but political analysts consider it a preparation for 2024,” the sources added. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress party’s general secretary, on Tuesday asserted that through the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ people will be united on issues like inflation, and unemployment among other matters of public importance. “We are starting a positive politics. We want to hear from you, we want to solve your problems. We want to unite our beloved country. Let’s unite India together,” Priyanka said in a Facebook video. Politics today has turned a blind eye towards people and their issues, she added. “Political discussion today isn’t focusing on the people of the country, it has taken a different turn altogether. Politics today has turned a blind eye towards people and their issues. Through this ‘yatra’ we want to bring out the problems and concerns of the common man,” Priyanka said. The senior Congress party leader urged people to join the ‘yatra,’ adding that people should unite to make the country prosperous. The yatra will proceed mainly through 12 states, including Himachal Pradesh, where Assembly polls are due later this year. Bharat Jodo Yatra attempt to undo damage done by BJP, RSS: Rahul Gandhi Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra‘ is an attempt to undo the damage done by the BJP and RSS while asserting that he is not totally out of the picture for the post of party president. “Whether I become president of Congress or not will become clear when the elections for the president post take place. But, I have clearly decided what I will do and there is no confusion in my mind,” Gandhi said on the party chief matter during the Congress‘s Bharat Jodo Yatra with an eye on the national election in 2024. “Bharat Jodo Yatra is an attempt to understand what’s happening on the ground and undo the damage done by BJP–RSS,” he added. The Congress MP from Wayanad also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for “taking control of all institutions”. “For us, this yatra is to connect with the people. We have taken out this yatra against the damage and hatred that BJP‘s ideology has caused to this country,” Gandhi said. “BJP has taken control of all the institutions of this country and pressurize through them. We are not fighting as a political party anymore. The fight is now between the structure of the Indian state and the opposition,” he said. “Frankly, the battle has been going on between two different visions for a couple of thousand years now, and it will continue. There are two different visions of India, one vision is rigid and controlling while another is plural and open-minded. The battle will continue,” Gandhi further added. Congress on Friday began its third day of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra‘, led by party MP Rahul Gandhi in Nagercoil city of Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu. The third day of Yatra began from Scott Christian College in Nagercoil to Azhagiyamandapam Junction in Tamil Nadu. Congress launched the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ on Wednesday in which Rahul Gandhi started the 3,570 km journey lasting about 150 days from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to combat the divisive politics of the BJP-led Centre, and to awaken the people of the country to the dangers of economic inequalities, social polarisation and political centralization. The 148-day march commenced on Wednesday from Kanyakumari and will culminate in Kashmir. The five-month Yatra is scheduled to cover a distance of 3,500 kilometers and more than 12 states by covering a distance of 25 km every day. The Yatra will include Padayatras, rallies, and public meetings which will be attended by the senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held earlier this year and the Yatra is seen as an attempt to rally the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles. (ANI) Bharat Jodo Yatra: Rahul Gandhi resumes padyatra from Kerala’s Navayikkulam Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], September 14 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed the eighth day of the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra from Navayikkulam in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday morning. Before starting the march from Navayikkulam, Rahul Gandhi paid his respects to social reformer Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri mutt in Kerala. The Yatra is in its Kerala leg and would traverse through the state for the next 17 days. The 3,500-km march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir will be completed in 150 days and cover as many as 12 states. From Kerala, the Yatra will traverse through the state for the next 18 days, reaching Karnataka on September 30. It will be in Karnataka for 21 days before moving north. The Padyatra (march) will cover a distance of 25 km every day. Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday had said that the spirit of the Bharat Jodo Yatra is to bring Indians together irrespective of religion, community and remind them that this is one country and it will be successful if we stand together and are respectful towards each other. Meanwhile, a political row erupted after Congress posted a picture of a burning pair of RSS shorts on Twitter. Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha President Tejasvi Surya said the picture depicted that the fires that the Congress has stoked in the past has burned its political fortunes in the country. Earlier on Monday, Congress tweeted a picture of fire-lit ‘Khakhi’ shorts and wrote, “To free the country from shackles of hate and undo the damage done by BJP-RSS. Step by step, we will reach our goal”. The tweet came in light of the current Bharat Jodo Yatra which marks day 6 today. In a series of tweets, Surya recalled various incidents of violence in the past including the Delhi anti-Sikh riots in 1984 and Godhra incident in 2002 where Karsevaks were burnt alive. The BJP leader hit out at Rahul Gandhi who is leading the Yatra and is currently in Kerala, and said that he is “fighting against the Indian state”. Making a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi for meeting controversial Catholic priest George Ponnaiah, Union minister A j a y Bhatt on Sunday slammed him for supporting people who want to divide India and said that Congress has been opposing every decision of PM Narendra Modi including the scrapping of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and the surgical strikes in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to Congress, the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ is being held to combat the divisive politics of the BJP-led Centre and to awaken the people of the country to the dangers of economic inequalities, social polarisation, and political centralization.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 9 Sale Ends 9-30-2022 Centre and States should work together to be become five trillion-dollar economy, says Gadkari Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 9 (ANI): Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday addressed the 41st Meeting of Transport Development Council (TDC) at Bengaluru and said that both the centre and the States should work together to transform the transport sector. “In the next five years, both the Centre and the states should work together to transform the transport sector of the country to become a five trilliondollar economy,” Gadkari said while addressing the meeting. He further said that efforts should be made to increase the automobile industry from 7.5 lakhs crore to 15 lakhs crore in the next 5 years enabling India as a top automobile manufacturing hub in the world. “This is only possible with the adoption of best technologies for the Indian road sector and emphasis on digital contactless services by all States and UTs. All diesel buses should be replaced with electric buses to reduce pollution and costs,” he added. Gadkari also encouraged the stakeholders to work towards fulfilling Modi’s vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. He reiterated that a serious and sensitive approach is needed towards road accidents and hard decisions will have to be taken to save precious lives of people. Ministers of Transport from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Goa, Karnataka, Delhi and Tamil Nadu participated in the 41st Transport Development Council (TDC). The initiatives of the Ministry on the construction of roads, public transport, technology adoption, Road safety and the initiatives on the development of Road Transport were appreciated by the Ministers. They complemented Gadkari for bringing out the Motor vehicles (amendment) Act, 2019 and its speedy implementation. They also spoke about various initiatives taken by respective States and UTs for improving the quality of road transport, road safety and support transport infrastructure. They also highlighted the challenges, such as the adoption and procurement of electric buses, establishment of charging stations, driver training centres, vehicle fitness centres etc. Minister of State RTH and Civil Aviation, Gen. (Dr) V K Singh, Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane, and Joint Secretary Shri Mahmood Ahmed also addressed the gathering. (ANI)
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