
Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla writes to PM Modi, demands
Amritsar (Punjab) [India], June 3 (ANI): Congress Lok Sabha MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concerns about the security of Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar and demanding that the area be declared a 'no-war zone.'
'I earnestly appeal to the Government of India to initiate steps for NO WAR ZONE and protected status to Sri Harmandir Sahib, under a framework that ensures: Permanent, non-political, high-level security for the shrine like Vatican City. International recognition and protection under humanitarian and interfaith harmony principles as per UNO. A clear mechanism to prevent any future military, political, or strategic targeting of this sacred place,' Aujla said in the letter.
Highlighting the global and national significance of the Golden Temple, which is revered by millions worldwide regardless of their religion, Aujla said that it has become urgent to safeguard the sacred institution with 'permanent, non-political, high-level security.'
'In the wake of recent war like situations, it has become an urgent need of the hour to safeguard this sacred institution with the highest level of permanent and global security,' the letter read.
His demand comes after Major General Kartik C Seshadri earlier claimed that Pakistan's prime target was the Golden Temple, according to information received from the intelligence, an attempt which was thwarted by the Indian army on May 8.
'A recent claim by a senior officer of the Indian Army, of the rank of Major General, stated that Pakistan Air Force had targeted the Golden Temple. This claim is not only alarming but has raised deep concern among the Sikh community worldwide. Given the sensitive geographical and political nature of the region, such threats-- whether real or perceived--pose a risk to national security and global religious harmony,' the letter further read.
'Any threat to it--real or claimed--has the potential to disturb world peace and affect inter-community trust and harmony. Such perceptions must not be allowed to take root,' Aujla added. (ANI)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
India now ranks third in building general dry cargo vessels for European short sea trade: Sarbananda Sonowal
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India now ranks 3rd in building general dry cargo vessels for the European short sea trade , Union Minister for Ports and Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal announced on Thursday, quoting private minister attributed this feat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "bold Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047"."India's shipbuilding ambitions are no longer just on paper, they are taking shape in shipyards and recognised globally," the minister wrote on X, attaching an infographic of strategic reforms to skilling our workforce, every step taken by the Modi Govt is making Make in India, Make for the World a reality. Our rise proves, India means business and the world knows it," the minister supplemented in his X Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 provides a comprehensive framework for the holistic development of India's maritime sector, encompassing ports, shipping, and waterways. MIV 2030 outlines 150 initiatives aimed at propelling India to global maritime 10 interconnected themes such as port infrastructure development, enhancing logistics efficiency, improving Indian shipbuilding tonnage, increasing coastal and waterway traffic, fostering technology innovation and policy support, promoting sustainability and global collaboration, address every facet of the maritime ecosystem, ensuring a well-rounded approach to transforming India into a leading maritime status of MIV 2030 gets reflected through the progress made by the Indian Maritime sector over the past 3 years as outlined below:Major Port Capacity increased from 1598 MMTPA in Financial Year 2022 to 1630 MMTPA in Financial Year Vessel Turn Around Time (TAT) reduced from 53 hours in Financial Year 2022 to 48 hours in Financial Year Berth Day Output increased from 16,000 MT in Financial Year 2022 to 18,900 MT in Financial Year the past three years, there has been a 37% increase in the Capital Expenditure to Rs 7,571 crore in Financial Year 2024 (from Rs. 5527 crore in Financial Year 2022) by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways including a 54 per cent increase in Gross Budget Support (GBS) to Rs 1,687 crore in Financial Year 2024 (from Rs 1,099 crore in Financial Year 2022) which is primarily towards the achievements of goals and targets outlined under MIV the past 3 years, around 75 port development projects have been awarded in Major Ports which includes projects for enhancement of cargo handling capacity and operational efficiency.


Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- Indian Express
At Indore event, MP minister Kailash Vijayvargiya stirs row — ‘Don't like women wearing skimpy clothes'
Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has stirred up the hornet's nest yet again. At a recent public event held in Indore, Vijayvargiya said he didn't 'like girls who wear skimpy clothes'. In a speech he made at the event, Vijayvargiya, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Madhya Pradesh's minister for urban development and parliamentary affairs, drew comparisons between Indian and Western culture, saying: 'Here in India, we consider a girl beautiful when she dresses well, wears jewellery, and adorns herself gracefully. In the West, a woman wearing fewer clothes is considered beautiful. I don't agree with that'. Continuing his comparison, he said: 'There's a saying in Western countries that a woman who wears fewer clothes is considered very beautiful, just as a leader who speaks less is considered good. But I don't believe in that. I believe a woman is a form of the goddess. She should wear nice clothes. I don't find women in revealing clothes attractive'. VIDEO | Here is what MP Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline ) says on women who wear skimpy clothes: 'I believe women should dress beautifully in Indian attire, as it is highly regarded in our culture. But, in some other countries, women who wear less clothes are often… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 5, 2025 He then went on to say: 'Sometimes girls come to take selfies with me. I tell them – 'Beta, come in proper clothes next time, then we'll take a photo'.' Vijayvargiya's team have refused to comment on the issue. Meanwhile, the Congress claimed the comments 'showed the BJP mentality'. 'Their mentality has been exposed to the public,' Congress spokesperson Abhinav Barolia told The Indian Express. This is not the first time Vijayvargiya has made comments on women's clothing. While attending a Hanuman Jayanti event in Indore in 2023, he remarked: 'I won't lie on Hanuman Jayanti… but girls these days wear such filthy clothes… We call women goddesses, but they don't appear that way… They look like Shurpanakha (a demoness from Hindu mythology). God has given you a beautiful body, at least wear decent clothes. Teach your children values'.


India Today
19 minutes ago
- India Today
Shashi Tharoor-led delegation meets JD Vance, discusses counter-terrorism efforts
The Indian Parliamentarians' delegation on global outreach over Operation Sindoor, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on Thursday, met with US Vice President JD Vance in Washington DC and discussed a range of issues, including the two countries' efforts on delegation, which also included BJP MP Bhubaneswar Kalita, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Sarfraz Ahmad and former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who served as ambassador to the US, posed for a photo with the US Vice President after holding talks with him, presenting India's point of view on the May 7 Operation Sindoor precision strikes carried out against Pakistani terror infrastructure in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 meeting with Vice President@JDVancetoday in Washington D.C. with our delegation. We had comprehensive discussions covering a wide array of critical issues, from counter-terrorism efforts to enhancing technological cooperation. A truly constructive & productive exchange for strengthening India-US strategic partnership, with a great meeting of minds," Tharoor posted on X, also sharing a photo from the occasion.