BJP's cultural outreach in Tamil Nadu continues to hit Dravidian roadblock
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
30 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Delhi to Manila direct flights set to begin on October 1, says MEA
In a significant step towards enhancing regional connectivity between India and the Philippines, direct flights from Delhi to Manila are expected to commence operations from October 1 this year, the Ministry of External Affairs stated on Tuesday. President Marcos announced visa-free entry privileges for Indian tourists, while PM Modi reciprocated with a similar scheme for Filipino tourists.(Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times) During a special press briefing on the occasion of the state visit of the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, to India, the MEA indicated that the two countries are exploring possibilities of expanding air links to additional destinations shortly to provide a strong impetus to tourism, business, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries. "Direct Air India flight connectivity from Delhi to Manila will be operational from the 1st of October to the Philippines, hopefully. Further discussions on destinations and how to expand will be further," the MEA stated. Earlier today, during the joint press statement, President Marcos announced visa-free entry privileges for Indian tourists, while PM Modi reciprocated with a similar scheme for Filipino tourists. "I reiterated our introduction of visa-free entry privileges and extended our invitation for more Indian tourists to visit the Philippines. I thank Prime Minister Modi in turn for the introduction of a scheme to grant visas free of charge to Filipino tourists travelling to India. We welcome the resumption of direct flights from October this year and have renewed our commitment to sustaining and expanding such direct air connectivity," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the decision, noting that India has also agreed to offer free e-visas to tourists from the Philippines. "We welcome the Philippines' decision to allow visa-free entry to Indian tourists. India has also decided to allow free e-visas for the Philippines' tourists. This year, work will be done regarding direct flights between India and Manila," PM Modi stated. The Philippines' President is on a five-day visit to India from August 4 to August 8. The visit marked a new era of closer engagement between the Philippines and India, with both nations poised to enhance their cooperation in various areas. President Marcos will also be meeting with President Droupadi Murmu later in the day.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
NSUI demands student union polls: Rajasthan Congress leaders face water cannons, over 30 detained
National Students' Union of India (NSUI) workers and senior Congress leaders, including AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot, on Monday staged a protest in Jaipur demanding the immediate restoration of student union elections. The Rajasthan Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters when, after a demonstration, tried to breach police barricades to march towards the chief minister's residence in Civil Lines area. A mild scuffle broke out between the police and NSUI workers, after which over 30 party leaders and workers, including Ladnun MLA Mukesh Bhakar and NSUI state president Vinod Jakhar, were detained. Speaking to the media after the protest, Pilot accused the BJP government in the state led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma of deliberately delaying various elections, including panchayat and urban body polls. He said the state government was working in a dictatorial manner, taking inspiration from Delhi. 'This is a double-engine government that is doing nothing. When elections arrive, they raise issues of Hindu-Muslim, temple-mosque and try to polarise voters. If people continue to vote based on religion and caste, this will happen,' he said. 'They are scared to lose, hence they are adopting tactics to crush the voice of students,' he said. Pilot claimed that students across the state are seeking elections and criticised the BJP for having 'no valid reason' to halt the process. Responding to the allegations, Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa said it was the previous Congress government under Ashok Gehlot that had stopped the student union elections. Students should be questioning Ashok Gehlot about why elections weren't held during his tenure. We are committed to the welfare of students,' Bairwa stated.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Modi tells NDA meet Oppn scored self-goal on Sindoor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out at opposition parties while addressing lawmakers from the National Democratic Alliance, saying that by criticising the government on Operation Sindoor they forced a discussion on an issue that was 'his turf'. Modi took potshots at Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, without naming him. 'He said there is an opposition leader prone to making childish comments. (ANI) A resolution saluting the valour of the armed forces and hailing the Prime Minister's 'unwavering resolve, visionary statesmanship and resolute command' was passed at the meeting. According to people privy to the details, the PM while speaking about Operation Sindoor, India's military strikes against terror camps in Pakistan and PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir), said the Opposition scored a self goal by seeking a discussion on the issue in Parliament. 'The PM said the Opposition must be ruing its decision to force a discussion… he said he was standing there to defend the country and even the gods gave their support to him,' said a party leader, speaking on condition of anonymity. A special discussion on the operation took place in both Houses of Parliament, with the PM speaking on the issue in the Lok Sabha on July 29. In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition walked out in protest against the PM's absence when the government fielded Union home minister Amit Shah to speak on the issue. Modi took potshots at Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, without naming him. 'He said there is an opposition leader prone to making childish comments. And made a reference to the Supreme Court's comments about Gandhi's remarks about the Indian army during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in December 2022,' said the person quoted above. 'He said there is an idiom in Hindi about shooting oneself in the foot, when an MP said it was known as 'aa bail mujhe maar'. The PM said he does not want to use such words, but indicated his disapproval of the LoP,' said a second person present at the meeting. The PM, who was addressing the NDA lawmakers after nearly a year, also reflected on the journey of the alliance and recalled how Atal Bihar Vajpayee, LK Advani, George Fernandes, Bala Saheb Thackeray and Nitish Kumar came together to form a coalition. Giving details of the meeting, Union parliamentary minister, Kiren Rijiju said the PM reflected on the journey of the NDA that was formed 25 years ago and 'shared details of how the NDA, as an organic body, should move forward and lead the country's journey'. 'The PM said had these people not come together, they (Congress) would have continued their misrule… His statement was an endorsement of the NDA's cohesion and he said the parties should work together, letting the stronger ally to lead in their respective regions,' said the second leader. On Rahul Gandhi making comments about the territorial integrity of the country, the PM said no one can get away with making irresponsible comments about the security of the country. 'He spoke about the statements made by Gandhi about the territorial issues and security of the country,' Rijiju said. The MPs gave a standing ovation to the PM for his leadership and political will to deal with terrorism and greeted him with slogans of Har Har Mahadev. The resolution passed at the meeting saluted 'the unmatched courage and unwavering commitment of our armed forces, who showed heroic valour during Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev.' 'Their courage highlights their unflinching devotion to protecting our nation. We pay our deepest condolences and respects to those who lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack,' the resolution said. The lawmakers from the BJP and its allies, the TDP, the JDU and other parties also felicitated the 'exceptional leadership' displayed by Prime Minister Modi. 'His unwavering resolve, visionary statesmanship and resolute command have not only steered the nation with purpose but also ignited a renewed spirit of unity and pride in the hearts of all Indians,' it said. Operation Sindoor was executed in response to April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which India said was perpetrated by Pakistan-based terrorist group, The Resistance Front (TRF), a front and proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The attack left 26 dead. 'If there is a terrorist attack on India, a fitting reply will be given. We will give a befitting response on our terms only… Secondly, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail…Thirdly, we will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism,' the resolution noted, highlighting the new normal in dealing with the issue. A reference was also made to the government's focus on indigenisation of defence capabilities and to the diplomatic outreach that was launched after the operation.
