'No U.S. Base Will Be Spared': Defiant Iran Dares West; 'Ready For War, Won't Give Up Nukes...'
US Inviting Gen Munir, Calling Pakistan A 'Phenomenal Partner' A Blow To India's Diplomacy: Congress
In a sharp political statement, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has slammed the United States for inviting Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, to the US Army Day celebrations on June 14. Ramesh referred to Munir's alleged provocative remarks ahead of the Pahalgam terror attacks and asked, 'What is the US really up to?' He called it a 'huge diplomatic setback' for India. Ramesh also criticised the US Central Command chief Gen Michael Kurilla's statement calling Pakistan a 'phenomenal partner' in counter-terrorism. Munir is expected to attend the 250th US Army anniversary parade, featuring 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles and over 50 aircraft. The visit raises fresh diplomatic concerns amid India's accusations of Pakistan-backed terror activities.#india #us #pakistan #asimmunir #uspakistan #jairamramesh #diplomaticsetback #indianews #modigovt #pakistanarmy #usarmyday #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews
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Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi targets RJD, Cong in marker for Bihar elections
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a meeting in Siwan, Bihar, targeted the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress, talked up his National Demoratic Alliance's development credentials , and inaugurated projects worth ₹ 11,000 crore from a stage replete with eight Union ministers, the state's chief minister and two deputy chief ministers, providing a curtain raiser to assembly elections due later this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd on his way to address a public rally with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary in Siwan, Bihar. (Santosh Kumar/HT) The Congress and the RJD hurt Bihar's pride and kept the state poor due to mafia raj, goonda raj and corruption, Modi said , taking a pointed shot at RJD's Lalu Prasad and alleging that the former chief minister insulted BR Ambedkar. The PM was speaking after laying the foundation stone of and inaugurating multiple development projects worth ₹ 11,000 crore. Modi, who is on a three-state tour, inaugurated the new Vaishali-Deoria railway line and a Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. He also flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive - the first built at a plant in Marhowra in Saran district – for export to the Republic of Guinea. Modi said the Congress did not allow Bihar to move out of poverty and the worst sufferers were Dalit, Mahadalit, backward classes and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), while in the last 11 years a record 250 million Indians moved out of poverty. 'Bihar under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar played a key role in it, as 3.75-crore (37.5 million) people from the state pulled themselves out of poverty. Despite so many years of independence, half the population lived below the poverty line. People struggled to beat poverty, as they could not find a way. The state was reduced to a migration centre and destined to live with the misfortune of poverty. Now, it is time to be wary of the same forces, who kept it poor, as they are desperate for power while the state has prepared the launchpad for rapid growth,' he added. Bihar governor Arif Mohammad Khan, chief minister Nitish Kumar, Union ministers Jitan Ram Manjhi, Giriraj Singh, Lalan Singh, Chirag Paswan, Ramnath Thakur, Nityanand Rai, Satishchandra Dubey, and Raj Bhushan Choudhary, deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, state health minister Mangal Pandey and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha were present on the occasion. This is PM's fourth visit to Bihar this year and third since April 24 in what is viewed as a build up for the crucial state elections scheduled in October-November. He reached the venue in a road show, waving to the people from an open vehicle along with CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Choudhary. Siwan is the birthplace of India's first President Dr Rajendra Prasad. Modi, who did not mention RJD's Prasad by name, also referred to a recent controversy where a portrait of Ambedkar was placed close to the feet of the ailing septuagenarian on his 78th birthday on June 11. 'Ambedkar was against dynasty rule. But they (RJD and its allies) do not like it. So they have his portrait placed at their feet. On my way, I saw posters demanding an apology for this insult to Babasaheb,' said Modi. 'But there has been no apology. This is because they hold Dalits in contempt. In contrast, Modi has Babasaheb in his heart and would like to keep his portrait close to his chest,' he added. According to the RJD, the controversy arose because of the camera angle at Prasad's residence. The party has said Prasad had his feet on a sofa because of 'medical advice', and a supporter stood close carrying the portrait of India's first law minister. Modi said that the panja (or hand – the Congress's symbol) and the lantern (the RJD's symbol) worked with a motive of 'Parivar ka Saath aur Parivar ka Vikas' (Support to family, growth to family), while the NDA works for Sabka saath, Sabka Vikas (inclusive development for all). He warned that those who brought 'jungle raj' to Bihar were looking for an opportunity to repeat their old deeds. 'You have to be very cautious for the bright future of your children. People who are ready to put the brakes on Bihar's developmental journey have to be kept at bay, as a prosperous Bihar is important for a prosperous India,' he added. Remembering Rajendra Prasad, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan, and social reformer Braj Kishor Prasad, Modi said Siwan was the land that lent strength to democracy and the Constitution and played a big role in the freedom movement. 'We are trying to take the same spirit forward with inclusive growth so that nobody is discriminated against and even the world recognises India's growth journey to be the third largest economy. I have faith in your abilities, as you are the ones who ended jungle Raj and then worked with the NDA to put the state on track,' he added. The PM said that the Marhowra rail factory was an example of the kind of Bihar the NDA striving to create. 'With the export of locomotives, Saran, which was abandoned by the RJD as backward, has made its place on the global map. Jungle Raj had stalled the growth engine, but now Bihar's engine will run in Africa. Bihar will be a big centre for Make in India and contribute to the nation's growth,' Modi said. The PM said in the last 10-11 years, over 55,000 kms of rural roads were built, 15 million houses got power connection and tap water, 45,000 common service centres were started and now there was a wave of start-ups in towns and cities. CM Nitish, who has been critical of the RJD over its governance track record, took potshots at the main rival, without naming the party. 'Did the ones in power until we took over care for governance? People were scared of stepping out of their homes because of the law and order situation. Such a contrasting sight today when we have boys, girls, and so many women moving freely,'he said. Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Yadav blunted the PM's attack and asked him to stop misleading the people. 'Why is Bihar still grappling with poverty, unemployment, migration, pitiable state of health and education, gross nepotism in appointments, poor state of industrialisation? He[Modi] has no answer, but he can only mislead. The crowd was forcibly assembled for the rally,' he said.
Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Labelling ASEAN countries as China's ‘B-team' unwarranted, insulting: Congress
The Congress on Friday hit out at Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for his remarks against the India-ASEAN trade agreements, signed under the UPA government, saying labelling these countries as 'B team of China' is 'irresponsible and insulting'. Speaking at the India Global Forum (IGF) session in London, Goyal said, 'There was a point of time 15 years ago when we were more focused on doing FTAs with countries who were our competitors. So if I am doing an ASEAN agreement, it really is silly because (that is) opening up my market to my competitors, many of whom have now become the B team of China.' 'So effectively and indirectly, I have opened up my market for goods that find their way from China into India,' Goyal had said. Sharma, a former Union Commerce Minister, Friday said in a statement, 'Piyush Goyal's statement terming the Trade agreement with ASEAN as silly and labelling these countries as B team of China is irresponsible and insulting.' He said India and ASEAN countries 'have been engaged in a multifaceted relationship for over three decades' which is 'mutually rewarding and important'. 'This is an integral part of the Look East policy to deepen and diversify India's relations with a region economically vibrant and of enormous geostrategic importance…' 'The Commerce Minister should be prioritising strengthening trade relations with partner countries and not insulting them while bending backwards to negotiate a suboptimal trade agreement with US on its terms,' he added.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Patole & Patel slug it out as sparks fly over graft
Nagpur: The ongoing slugfest between former Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole and former Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel reached a flashpoint on Friday after the former accused Patel of being responsible for irregularities during his 2011–12 tenure in the UPA govt. Patole's reply came days after Patel termed him as "chillar (petty)" leader, claiming he was being sidelined in Congress after stepping down as MPCC president. Their rivalry began after Patole caused a major upset by defeating Patel, a heavyweight candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Interestingly, Patole was a Congress MLA from Sakoli when Patel was aviation minister and both were in the same govt. Citing objections raised by the Accountant General at the time, Patole claimed Patel cleared questionable civil aviation deals without consequence. "Despite audit red flags, no action was taken. Now, those individuals enjoy protection under the BJP-led Centre. Why was Air India sold off and what's the job of the civil aviation ministry now," he asked at a packed press conference here on Friday, demanding a fresh audit and parliamentary probe into the disinvestment. He further accused the BJP-led Centre of shielding Patel in return for his political allegiance. Patel dismissed the charges as "baseless" and politically motivated, pointing out Patole's silence when both leaders were in Congress. "He's raising these decade-old issues after nearly losing his assembly seat last year when he scraped through by mere 208 votes. He has no role in the party, so he's attacking others for relevance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo He doesn't have any evidence to substantiate his claims," Patel told TOI. Talking to reporters, Patole also accused Election Commission of India (ECI) of colluding with the Centre to erase electoral accountability. He condemned a May 30 circular by the ECI instructing state CEOs to destroy all polling-related CCTV footage and documents within 45 days of polling. "This is the first time in independent India that critical poll evidence is being legally destroyed. Citizens would access these materials to challenge outcomes. That right is gone now," he said. He cited a December 2024 ruling by the Punjab and Haryana High Court that mandated preserving such records and accused the Centre of acting in haste. "Within 48 hours of the ECI's letter to the govt, Rule 93 of the Conduct of Election Rules was amended. This cannot be coincidental, it proves collusion," Patole said. Calling the change "a murder of democracy in broad daylight," Patole questioned the surge in vote count on counting day. "At 5 pm there were 40 lakh votes. By evening, it was 76 lakh. When I asked the ECI to explain, they remained silent." The Sakoli MLA further demanded accountability from the Centre following a recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad that claimed over 270 lives. "When 26/11 happened, Congress took moral responsibility by taking resignation from then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and deputy CM RR Patil. Today's rulers must do the same."
