JP Nadda hails Rajasthan's double-engine government, draws flak from Opposition
JAIPUR: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President and Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda visited Jaipur on Saturday for a one-day tour. During his visit, he praised the BJP-led "double engine" government in Rajasthan, highlighting the role of policy-making and the welfare schemes introduced by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
Speaking to reporters at Jaipur airport, Nadda said that Operation Sindoor, along with the earlier surgical and air strikes, had shown that India would not hesitate to retaliate if provoked. 'If anyone raises an eye towards India, we will respond by entering their territory. Operation Sindoor is still ongoing,' he said.
At a program held at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC), Nadda emphasised the importance of policy-makers in driving development. 'It's not just about making Bhajanlal Sharma the Chief Minister. It's about placing a committed worker of our ideology at the helm — someone who, along with his team, is serving Rajasthan under the leadership of Modi ji,' he said.
He described the Rajasthan government's schemes, particularly those aimed at women's empowerment, as a model for the nation. 'Initiatives like 'Garbh Ki Pathshaala' are transformational and will bring significant change to society,' Nadda said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor: Pakistan dossier 'reveals' 7 more targets India hit
NEW DELHI: Pakistan said India conducted strikes at seven more locations than the targets officially acknowledged by Indian armed forces between May 7 and 10 during Operation Sindoor . A Pakistan govt document on its Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos (Iron Wall) and India's "unprovoked aggression", shared with its media, lists out Indian drone strikes at Attock, Bahawalnagar, Gujrat and Jhang (Punjab province), Peshawar (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province), and Chhor and Hyderabad (Sindh province), which it claimed killed many civilians. None of these places were mentioned in the detailed briefings conducted by Indian foreign and military establishments. "We had disclosed the targets we hit in the briefings. This Pakistani document could be a propaganda attempt to show that India also targeted civilian sites," an Indian defence official said. After Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, India on May 7 hit 4 terror hubs in Pakistan and five in POK, in calibrated strikes against terror infrastructure across the border, without targeting any Pakistani military base or civilian centre. The targets ranged from Sawai Nala camp in Muzaffarabad in north to Markaz Taiba in Muridke (Lashkar-e-Taiba HQ) and Markaz Subhan at Bahawalpur (Jaish-e-Muhammed HQ) in south. After Pakistan escalated the situation by targeting Indian military bases and civilian centres with missiles and waves of drone swarms, IAF struck at least nine Pakistani airbases and at least four military radar sites.
India.com
32 minutes ago
- India.com
Why Russia's S-400 Failed To Counter Ukrainian Drones; What India Got Right With Its Layered Air Defense
New Delhi: On June 1, 2025, the world witnessed an eye-opening breach of Russia's military defenses. Launched from inside hidden containers, Ukrainian drones penetrated more than 4,000 kilometers deep into Russian territory and hit multiple airbases in an operation code named 'Spider Web'. At least 40 Russian aircraft were destroyed. It assault left global military analysts stunned. But more shocking than the attack was the failure of Russia's vaunted S-400 and S-500 air defense systems. These high-end platforms, touted as some of the best in the world, could not stop a fleet of low-flying and autonomous drones. Why? The S-400's Blind Spot Russia's failure was not purely a technological one, it was strategic. The S-400 is built to intercept high-altitude threats such as enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. But it falters against low-flying and slow-moving drones that often fly below radar coverage. Add to that the lack of low-level air defense, a unified command system and real-time threat intelligence and even the most advanced system becomes vulnerable. In essence, the S-400 was looking too far, while the real danger was up close. Having observed global battlefield trends and drawn key lessons from conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war, India has adopted a more adaptive strategy. Instead of relying solely on high-tech imports like the S-400, India has built a layered and integrated air defense model. This strategy was tested and validated during the recent Operation Sindoor, where India not only thwarted a multi-pronged drone and missile attack from Pakistan but also launched a precise counterstrike that neutralised enemy radars, HQ-9 systems and terrorist camps. The Game-Changer At the centre of India's new defense posture lies Akashteer, a real-time and automated air defense control system developed indigenously. It is more than a radar. It is a command nerve center that connects the Air Force, the Army and the Navy on a single grid. Akashteer tracks, prioritises and assigns aerial threats to the most suitable interceptor, be it a missile, drone or gun, within seconds. Its key advantages include 360-degree coverage against drones, aircraft and cruise missiles, faster decision-making and automated threat response, seamless coordination among all armed services and reduced risk of friendly fire, Old Meets New One of the unsung heroes of Operation Sindoor was the upgraded L-70 anti-aircraft gun. Originally introduced decades ago, it has now been modernised with electronic fire control systems and target-tracking radars. These guns are now capable of shooting down drones and helicopters flying as low as 3,000 metres. Complementing this is the Akash missile system, designed to take out threats up to 25 km away. When deployed together in a 'battle grid', they cover both low-level intrusions and high-flying aerial threats – something the S-400 cannot do alone. Why This Mix-Match Formula Matters The future of warfare is asymmetric. From drone swarms launched from shipping containers to precision attacks from behind enemy lines, conventional systems like the S-400 are no longer enough. India's terrain and adversaries, ranging from China in the northeast to Pakistan in the west, require a multi-threat, all-weather and all-altitude defense approach. A single-tier system simply cannot cover such a wide spectrum. What also sets India apart is the growing reliance on indigenously developed systems. From Akashteer and Akash missiles to modernised L-70 guns and homegrown radar systems, India's air defense ecosystem is increasingly self-reliant. This boosts not only operational flexibility, but also economic and industrial strength. The ability to custom-build systems for specific missions, without relying on external supply chains, has become a strategic advantage, especially in a post-COVID and post-Ukraine world marked by global disruptions. What happened in Russia is a warning – expensive technology alone cannot win wars. Without intelligent integration, adaptive systems and multi-layered coordination, even the best platforms can be rendered obsolete. India's layered air defense, rooted in homegrown tech, joint-force coordination and rapid-response automation, is emerging as a global model for modern warfare. As the world is faced with new-age aerial threats, India's 'high-tech + low-level' fusion may just be the blueprint others follow.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Houses outside lal dora to get water connections but at a hefty price
Chandigarh: The BJP-led municipal corporation did approve the agenda of temporary water connections for residents living outside the lal dora at 22 villages in the city, but with a caveat. The civic body has imposed double domestic charges and hefty construction charges, much to the chagrin of opposition parties, which protested against the financial burden. According to the opposition, water connections should be provided without imposing double domestic charges and construction charges on old buildings. Regardless of their protests, the mayor and BJP councillors approved the agenda. Objecting to this, AAP councillor Hardeep Singh said, "Water connection is required, but not by imposing double charges and construction charges on old buildings. I opposed these hefty charges, but the mayor completely ignored it and allowed the agenda to be approved, placing this unbearable financial burden on residents living outside Lal Dora." Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh agreed. "It is very wrong that water connections are passed, only to be given at double rates and by applying construction charges on old buildings. In their hunger to take credit, BJP approved the agenda but through wrong means, which will impose a major financial burden on the public. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo This is cheating the residents living outside Lal Dora. There is no logic of imposing a double domestic charge while giving such water connections. " BJP faced opposition within its ranks too, with councillor Kanwar Rana saying that double domestic charges outside lal dora should not be imposed. However, his objection was also ignored and the agenda was passed. The final decision will be taken by the Chandigarh administration. However, sources said that any construction outside the lal dora is illegal in the eyes of the UT administration, which terms such construction as illegal. Although the MC held meetings with senior officers of the UT and raised the issue before the administrator, arguing that water supply is a necessity, the move may encourage more illegal construction outside Lal Dora. Moreover, constructed properties outside the lal dora are being used for commercial activities. "Since the Periphery Control Act applies in Chandigarh and outside lal dora construction is a violation, approved agenda of the general house will be sent to the UT administration for its consideration. The UT will legally, administratively, and logically examine all points before taking a final decision," sources in the MC revealed. MSID:: 121601782 413 |
