Indian MP delegation calls on Bahrain Deputy PM, conveys India's stand against terrorism
An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation on Sunday (May 25, 2025) briefed Bahrain's Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa about the challenge of cross-border terrorism facing India and New Delhi's firm resolve to combat it.
The delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, is one of the seven multi-party delegations India has tasked to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community on Pakistan's designs and India's response to terror.
'India & Bahrain share a deep, historic friendship built on trust, shared values & mutual respect. … Together in the fight against terrorism, we discussed matters of mutual interest & India's firm commitment to combat terror in all its forms,' Mr. Panda said in a post on X.
The meeting took place at the Gudaibiya Palace here in the capital city, Manama.
The multi-party MPs also met Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, the chairman of Shura Bahrain, the upper house of the legislative body of Bahrain, and 'underscored India's resolve to fight against terrorism and strengthen bilateral ties,' said a post on X by the Indian Embassy in Bahrain.
The delegation also visited Bab Al Bahrain, a historic landmark in Manama, which Mr. Panda described as a 'symbol of Bahrain's rich cultural heritage and enduring ties with India.'
The delegation reached here on Saturday (May 24, 2025) for a two-day visit.
During the visit, they also met prominent Indians and civil society members.
'We are here at a difficult time... The difficulty has to do with the latest terror attack in Pahalgam and the hostilities with Pakistan thereafter,
'We come here in friendship to seek support. 26 men were killed at short range in front of their wives after verifying their religion. India has faced many such terrifying terrorist attacks... Our problem is that our terror attacks are all coordinated by one of our neighbours,' he said during the meeting on Saturday (May 24, 2025).
He also added, 'Bahrain and India have a deep and long-standing relationship... I would like to thank the government of Bahrain for the consistent stand that it has taken. We truly appreciate Bahrain's strong comments during recent developments.'
The delegation offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at India House, Bahrain.
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, also a member of the delegation, while answering a question during the meeting, said, 'Our government has sent us here, and various other delegations comprising all party members across various parts of the world, so that the world knows of the threat that India has been facing.'
'The terrorists have justified killings of innocent people in India. …. In our opinion, there is no difference between terrorists in Pakistan and ISIS takfiri ideology,' Mr. Owaisi said.
The Panda-led delegation will head to Kuwait on May 26 as part of the diplomatic outreach to apprise prominent personalities and the Indian community there about India's stance against terrorism.
Besides Mr. Panda and Mr. Owaisi, former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, ex-National chairperson of the National Commission for Women and Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma are also among the delegation members.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives. India carried out precision strikes as part of Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7.
It was followed by Pakistan's attempt to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions.
The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Foreign aid and financial woes
When reports last week stated that the Chief Minister's Relief Fund of Maharashtra had been allowed to receive foreign contributions under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), the CPI(M)-led Left government in Kerala was quick to depict this as yet another act of discrimination against the southern State by the Centre. It recalled that the Centre had declined the Kerala government's plea for accepting foreign aid in the days following the 2018 floods — a catastrophe that left large-scale destruction in its wake. Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal said that while his State welcomed the approval for Maharashtra, it believed that it was unbecoming of the Central government to indulge in 'political bias' in moments of great crisis. He stressed that it is important that the Centre treats every State equally. He added that it was unfortunate that politics, and not the scale of disasters, had become the yardstick in such matters. This was an apparent reference to the fact that the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition governs Maharashtra. In the aftermath of the floods, the Centre had sparked a controversy by declining permission for Kerala to accept foreign aid, including a reported ₹700 crore offer from the UAE. Kerala's discomfiture with the foreign aid nod to Maharashtra is the latest episode in a protracted stand-off between the State and Centre. Kerala believes that it is being discriminated against, and denied its fair share of financial resources by the Centre. It has repeatedly complained about drastic cuts in financial allocations to it, and the 'unfair limits' placed on its fiscal space. The Kerala government had taken the battle over restrictions on its borrowing capacity to the Supreme Court. On the political front, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has consistently accused the Centre of attempting to 'financially choke' Kerala. It has blamed the Centre's skewed policies for the State's financial woes. The State government believes that recent Union Budgets have also caused disappointment to the State, as they have ignored pressing demands on the financial front. For instance, Kerala's plea for a ₹24,000 crore economic package to prop up its finances were not mentioned in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Union Budgets. More recently, the government slammed the Union Finance Ministry for cutting a little over ₹3,300 crore from its borrowing limit for the 2025-26 fiscal under the pretext of the Guarantee Redemption Fund. The foreign aid nod to Maharashtra also presented the LDF government an opportunity to reiterate its dismay over the Centre's approach to the deadly July 30, 2024, landslides in Wayanad district. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Kerala government had announced plans for a structured rehabilitation programme, which included the building of townships with amenities for survivors. Mr. Balagopal said that the people of Kerala had, on two instances, expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce special aid to Wayanad: first, when he visited that district in August last year; and second, when he visited Thiruvananthapuram to inaugurate the seaport at Vizhinjam. On both occasions, their hopes were dashed, he said. Time and again, Kerala has accused the BJP government of paying scant regard to cooperative federalism — the driving spirit of Centre-State relations. It is evident that the trust deficit between the two entities on financial matters persists, notwithstanding the much-discussed breakfast meeting that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hosted for Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at New Delhi in March. It remains to be seen how Kerala's financial grievances concerning Union government policies will be addressed, as the southern State inches closer to a frenetic election season. The by-election in the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Malappuram district is scheduled to take place on June 19; elections to the rural and urban local bodies are scheduled to take place towards the end of 2025; and the Legislative Assembly polls are set to take place in the first half of 2026. In matters of State finances, Kerala will be keenly watching the recommendations made by the 16th Finance Commission led by Arvind Panagariya later this year. The State has sought a higher share of resources, arguing that its share of the divisible pool was brought down to 1.92% under the 15th Commission from 3.88% under the 10th.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Rahul seeks immediate action against culprits
Bhopal: Lok Sabha LOP Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the 11 years of Narendra Modi govt was full of humiliation, violence, and discrimination against Dalits. Rahul Gandhi was reacting to the death of 19-year-old Dalit youth Pankaj Prajapati in Bilahari, Chhattarpur district on Sunday. Taking to X, Rahul Gandhi said, "In Madhya Pradesh, 19-year-old Pankaj Prajapati was shot dead in public only because he, being a Dalit, demanded his share of rights. FIR was not registered, postmortem was postponed – because the guilty leader is sitting in the lap of power and the power belongs to Manuwadi and anti-Bahujan BJP." He added, "The 11 years of Modi govt was full of humiliation, violence, and discrimination against Dalits, adivasis, backward classes, and minorities. The conspiracy to institutionally make them second-class citizens and keep them away from the mainstream is continuing. The culprits should be arrested immediately and given the harshest punishment. I stand with the Prajapati family and every Bahujan of the country. This is a fight for respect, justice, and equality, and we will win this fight at all costs." State Congress president Jitu Patwari said that the Bilahari firing incident exposes the failure of law and order in MP. "This heinous crime has once again exposed the deteriorating law and order situation in Madhya Pradesh under the BJP govt," he said. TNN
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Assembly resolution to rename Dibrugarh airport after Bhupen
1 2 3 Guwahati: Assam assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to rename the Dibrugarh airport in honour of the legendary musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika as the state prepares a year-long centenary celebration of his birthday from Sept 8. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with ministers and MLAs from both the treasury and opposition benches, paid tributes to Hazarika's enduring legacy, especially his message of universal love and humanity through his creative works. Several members even sang his iconic songs and recited his compositions. State transport minister Jogen Mohan moved the govt resolution recommending that the central govt rename the Dibrugarh airport as 'Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika Airport, Dibrugarh', during the day-long special session convened for this purpose. Sarma said the special session was convened because an Assembly resolution is mandatory for renaming any airport or railway station. "First, the state cabinet has to make the decision. It has to be passed by the Assembly and then, the union cabinet will approve it. This has paved the way for renaming the airport anytime now after Sept 8," he added. Sarma, participating in the discussion, emphasised Hazarika's identity as a 'humanist' above anything else. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Don't Forget To Block Ads Before Monday Lifestyle Tech Tips Click Here Undo Prime Minister Narendra Modi will grace the inauguration of the centenary birthday celebration here on Sept 8. Various programmes throughout the year. Events will also be held in Arunachal Pradesh where he spent his formative years, and in Kolkata and Mumbai where he spent his professional time. The closing ceremony will be held in the national capital. Sarma said the Reserve Bank of India has been approached for a commemorative coin. A book on his life is also being planned. It will be translated into 23 Indian languages.
