Moved by Op Sindoor, inspired by PM's address, over 150 donate blood at DoPT camp: Jitendra Singh
New Delhi [India], May 14 (ANI): A blood donation camp was organised on Wednesday by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) as a gesture of support and national unity after Operation Sindoor, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh said, adding it was inspired by PM Modi's recent address.
The MoS added that over 150 people attended the blood donation drive held at North Block.
Speaking to ANI at the camp, Jitendra Singh said, 'We decided the very next day after Operation Sindoor, to organise a blood donation camp here... More than 150 people have already donated blood, and the camp is still ongoing. Everyone is so inspired by PM Narendra Modi's address the day before yesterday... The people here say that this is a way to offer their solidarity and support for PM Modi.'
He added that holding blood donation camps has become a tradition under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
The camp was held in the wake of Operation Sindoor, and many people came forward to donate blood as a show of support for the armed forces.
Earlier in the day, Singh also visited the international border area of Hiranagar in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. There, he attended a review meeting with the district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Minhas, and interacted with residents.
Speaking to reporters in Kathua, Singh praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving a 'befitting' response to Pakistan and said this had boosted people's morale across the country.
'We thank Prime Minister Modi for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan, it has boosted the morale of the countrymen... The morale of the people here has also increased because they believe that whatever is seen in the sky gets destroyed before it lands on the ground...' he said.
The minister also highlighted the government's push for technology and infrastructure since 2014.
'After 2014, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the modernisation of technology and made us realise the importance of becoming self-reliant,' Singh said.
He alleged that during Congress rule, the region lacked basic infrastructure like mobile towers, which have now been installed in the past ten years.
Talking about security and health facilities in the border region, Singh said that 2,000 one-room bunkers have already been built, and 600 more are under construction. He added that 39 ambulances have been arranged in the area.
'In Kathua's government medical college, two more ambulances have been arranged apart from the already available ones. Also, 50 hospital beds are to be set up,' he said.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a nationwide Tiranga Yatra, a public outreach campaign to honour Indian soldiers, highlight the success of Operation Sindoor, and showcase the government's strong response to Pakistan.
The Tiranga Yatra began on Tuesday and will continue until May 23. It was launched in Delhi with a symbolic march featuring a 108-foot national flag. The yatra started at Kartavya Path and will conclude at the National War Memorial. Thousands of people--including BJP workers, citizens, NGOs, RWAs, religious leaders, and social organisations--joined to pay tribute to the armed forces.
According to party sources, ex-servicemen, social workers, and prominent public figures will lead the marches in different states to promote unity, patriotism, and national pride. The BJP is aiming to turn the campaign into a large-scale people's movement.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
15 minutes ago
- India.com
YouTube Star-Turned Spy? Meet Another Influencer With 1.1M Fans Nabbed For Spying For Pakistan's ISI
New Delhi: In a dramatic bust that has rocked the digital influencer world, the Punjab Police has arrested Jasbir Singh – the man behind the massively popular YouTube channel Jaan Mahal, boasting over 1.1 million subscribers. His alleged crime? Espionage. According to authorities, Singh was allegedly working with Pakistan's notorious spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), apart from filming videos for social media. A resident of Mehli village in Punjab's Rupnagar district, he was nabbed in Mohali by the Special Operations Cell (SSOC) of the Punjab Police. Investigators claim he had been in contact with a known ISI asset, Shakir alias Jatt Randhawa – an Indian-origin alleged operative working for Pakistani intelligence. But the rabbit hole goes deeper. Sources say Singh was also in touch with Danish, aka Ehsan-ur-Rahim – a Pakistani official previously posted at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. Danish had been expelled from India over espionage charges. Despite this, Singh allegedly maintained links with him, adding another layer of intrigue to the already explosive case. Even more startling are Singh's repeated visits to Pakistan – not once, but three times – in 2020, 2021 and 2024. He even attended a high-profile "Pakistan Day" event at the country's embassy in Delhi, where he was seen rubbing shoulders with Pakistani military officers and vloggers. The police say Singh was closely connected to Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was also arrested just weeks ago on similar spying charges and accompanied her on some of these trips. Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, State Special Operations Cell (#SSOC), Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, #Rupnagar. Jasbir Singh, who operates a #YouTube channel called 'Jaan Mahal,' has been found… — DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) June 4, 2025 During searches of Singh's digital devices, the police reportedly discovered more than 100 Pakistani phone numbers. Following Malhotra's arrest, Singh allegedly scrambled to delete incriminating chats and contacts linked to ISI handlers but it was too late. The arrests do not stop there. So far, seven people have been taken into custody as part of this deepening ISI-linked espionage network. The accused hail from Amritsar, Malerkotla and Gurdaspur, including individuals like Falaksher Masih, Suraj Masih and Sukpreet Singh. They are accused of leaking sensitive Indian military information to Pakistan. A senior police official confirmed, 'This is a well-coordinated espionage ring. Our investigations are ongoing, and we are closing in on every single individual connected to it.' This sensational case has triggered alarm bells across intelligence agencies, raising concerns over how social media influencers are being lured into high-stakes international spy games.
Hindustan Times
31 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
HT Interview: India, Aus ties have moved to a higher level, says Marles
Australia backs India's efforts to combat terrorism and the halting of military actions with Pakistan last month was 'an act of Indian leadership', Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday, while outlining Canberra's plans to foster closer defence and security ties with New Delhi. In a conversation with HT, Marles, who is also defence minister, spoke about China's backing of Pakistan during recent clashes with India, saying both Delhi and Canberra feel China's massive military build-up has had 'an impact on the strategic landscape of the Indo-Pacific', and expressed hope that am India-Australia comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) will be concluded soon. Edited excepts: Q: As India and Australia mark five years of their comprehensive strategic partnership, you've said the re-elected Albanese government is going to be more ambitious. How do you look back at these five years and what's next? Marles: India's place in Australia's worldview has grown dramatically under Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi's leadership. The bilateral relationship has gone to a greater level - we're doing more economically together and have never been more strategically aligned. This is reflected in our much greater security and defence relationship, which is not just in terms of how we engage in forums that we meet in, the way in which we speak, but actually at a practical level, we're doing more. [Something] as specific as maritime domain awareness, what we're doing with our Boeing P-8 surveillance aircraft that both countries use. When you're sharing that kind of information, you're only doing that with the closest of friends. This collaboration enormously enhances our ability to see the ocean for both India and Australia. Q: One focus area for Australia is ensuring the Indo-Pacific remains free, open and secure, and you are looking very closely at the Indian Ocean. Australia gifted a patrol boat to the Maldives during your visit. What more would you like do with India in the Indian Ocean? Marles: We want to see a free and open Indian Ocean and work with India as the major player here. From Australia's perspective, 50% of our trade goes past the front door here. We've got a deep national interest in the rules of the road applying in the Indian Ocean, freedom of navigation, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of trade. The Maldives patrol boat gift builds on our Pacific Island programme experience. It presents an opportunity for us to cooperate with India in supporting smaller nations' maritime capabilities. Q: There's been a fundamental shift in India-Australia defence ties, including the signing of a logistics support agreement and an air-to-air refuelling agreement. How do you plan to expand interoperability and exercises? Marles: There is a whole lot of ambition that we have. The world's complexity and our strategic alignment make closer cooperation increasingly attractive. There's more we can do in maritime domain awareness and expanding exercises - bilaterally and potentially with other countries. We see opportunities in intelligence-sharing. But the biggest area is maritime domain awareness and activity. We want progress on key agreements and roadmaps leading to this year's 2+2 meeting [of defence and foreign ministers] and leaders' summit. This is a crucial year for advancement. Q: China's military activities across the region are a concern for many countries and there are clear signs China backed Pakistan, in terms of equipment and surveillance, during the recent clashes with India. In that context, how does Australia view the hostilities between India and Pakistan? Marles: Though there's two points [here]. We condemn the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Our sympathies are with the families who lost loved ones. We stand with India and all countries combating terrorism. We acknowledge and welcome the stoppage of military activity - we see that as an act of Indian leadership. We'll continue working with India to combat terrorism in all forms. Regarding China - our relationship is complex. It's our largest trading partner, but we have security concerns we've expressed to China directly. We're watching the world's biggest conventional military buildup since WWII, done without strategic reassurance. China's intent remains unclear, and this impacts the Indo-Pacific's strategic landscape. We feel that, India feels that. Since our last 2+2 meeting in November 2023, these issues have become more complex. The reasons for India-Australia cooperation have only grown. Q: The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) changed the economic landscape between India and Australia. How far are we on the path towards the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA)? Marles: We've seen real progress across the four economic roadmap areas PM Albanese outlined - education, green energy, agriculture and tourism. CECA negotiations continue. We're hopeful for a conclusion in the not-too-distant future, which would elevate our trading arrangements. Over the last five years, India's trade with Australia has grown at double the rate of its trade with the rest of the world. The India-Australia trading relationship, measured against all of India's trading relationships, is a standout. What we've achieved has made a huge difference, and we're excited about the next level. It's a huge opportunity - our economies are complementary. Q: Is there anything in particular holding up negotiations on CECA? Marles: No, negotiations are going well. It's natural that people bring different positions that need working through. We're pleased with progress and hopeful for a near-future conclusion. Q: India is set to host the Quad Summit at a time when the US administration appears to be more inward-looking. What would Australia like to see on the agenda of the Quad Summit? Marles: I don't necessarily accept that assertion. We all want American leadership, but the Quad has always been an opportunity for four like-minded democracies with shared values to cooperate for the Indo-Pacific's benefit. This meeting is important for continuing Quad momentum across current engagement areas. We want to see that expanded. As the first Quad Summit of the Trump administration, it has significance. The Quad is important for our countries' Indo-Pacific leadership, making this meeting crucial. Q: Do you think the Indian government's concerns about activities of Khalistani separatists in Australia have been addressed? Are there still concerns about their activities? Marles: I hope not. People in Australia have the right to their views, but there's no sympathy for the Khalistani movement from the Australian government - none at all. We take our obligations to provide security for India's missions very seriously. Q: How do you plan on building on the role of the Indian diaspora in Australia to further strengthen bilateral relations? Marles: The Indian diaspora is a wonderful asset for Australia. It's our fastest growing community, bringing energy and industry to the Australian economy. We are huge recipients of their contributions.
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
200 Oppn MPs to write to Modi for spl Parliament session on Pahalgam attack, Op Sindoor
New Delhi: More than 200 Opposition lawmakers from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are set to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demand a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The move comes after 20 top-ranking leaders including two Leaders of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool's Abhishek Banerjee wrote to PM seeking a special session. The government, however, has indicated it will not have a special session. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the monsoon session will start from July 21 and end on August 12. Lok Sabha authorities told HT that there is no intimation for any special session. Reacting to the government's announcement, Trinamool Congress's Derek O'Brien said, 'TMC has studied the past announcements, and usually the session is announced around 19 days ahead of the date of commencement. This time, they announced it 47 days ahead. So scared! If they can announce the Monsoon Session, why not a Special Session in June.' Functionaries said what the demand for a special session has also renewed the channel of communications between Gandhi and Banerjee. A top functionary said that Gandhi spoke to Banerjee, who is abroad on the delegation and discussed the importance of a joint approach to demand a joint session. Even as TMC is not a poll ally of the Congress, the discussions between the two top-ranking leaders can lead to greater cooperation between the two sides in the upcoming session.
