logo
Trade and terror can't coexist, says BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj in Liberia

Trade and terror can't coexist, says BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj in Liberia

India Gazette2 days ago

Monrovia [Liberia], June 3 (ANI): As India intensifies its global campaign against terrorism, BJP leader and Group 4 member of the all-party delegation, Bansuri Swaraj, highlighted the country's unwavering commitment to promoting peace and partnership during the conclusion of their diplomatic visit to the UAE, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
'Together, trade and terror cannot work. Blood and business cannot flow together,' Swaraj said, emphasising India's belief in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam--the world is one family--and its consistent efforts to act as a global friend. She highlighted that terrorism is not a regional issue but a global threat, and said that seven parliamentary delegations had been dispatched with this clear message.
'Our Group 4 delegation, under the leadership of Shrikant Eknath Shinde, visited four countries to carry this message forward,' she noted.
Recalling the support from the UAE, Swaraj said, 'This wasn't just a diplomatic visit--it was a declaration of India's resolve. The UAE was the first country to condemn the barbaric attack, expressing its friendship through this clear stand.'
She highlighted the West African leg of the visit, saying, 'Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Liberia are not only longstanding partners of India with strong bilateral ties, but they also hold important roles on the global stage. Our visit was aimed at recognising and reinforcing this influence,' she added.
Reflecting on the impact of the mission, Swaraj said, 'Our diplomatic efforts were highly successful. In Sierra Leone and in the Parliament of Liberia, a moment of silence was observed in memory of the Pahalgam terror victims. The DR Congo also issued a strong statement of support, standing with us in the global fight against terrorism.'
She expressed confidence in India's growing international stature under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, saying, 'The resolve of 140 crore Indians against terrorism is now being echoed around the world.'
The delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, includes BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, Manan Kumar Mishra, Indian Union Muslim League's ET Mohammed Basheer, Biju Janata Dal's Sasmit Patra, BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. This group aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in key countries.
This multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. (ANI)

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bengaluru stampede: BCCI ducks blame, CM Siddaramaiah cites Kumbh Mela and blames RCB fans, BJP targets Karnataka govt
Bengaluru stampede: BCCI ducks blame, CM Siddaramaiah cites Kumbh Mela and blames RCB fans, BJP targets Karnataka govt

Hindustan Times

time16 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Bengaluru stampede: BCCI ducks blame, CM Siddaramaiah cites Kumbh Mela and blames RCB fans, BJP targets Karnataka govt

A night of victory for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) turned into a horrific tragedy as a tragic stampede outside M Chinnaswamy stadium claimed 11 lives and injured 33 others during IPL victory celebrations on Wednesday. What should have been a historic celebration for RCB fans has instead become a heartbreaking episode marked by mourning and political blame games. Soon after the news of the stampede broke out in the Congress-ruled Karnataka, chief minister Siddaramaiah expressed his deep condolences and announced ₹10 lakh compensation for victims' kin. 'This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow over this incident,' he added. Ordering a magisterial inquiry into the tragedy with a deadline of 15 days, Siddaramaiah said the incident should not be politicised, 'Such incidents happened in many places, 50-60 people died in Kumbh Mela. I did not criticise. If the Congress criticises, that is a different matter. Did I or the Karnataka government criticise?' Karnataka CM was talking about the recent stampede at Maha Kumbh mela in BJP-ruled state of Uttar Pradesh that claimed the lives at least 30 people. Also read | Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka high court takes suo motu cognisance, to hear matter today Explaining what led to the stampede at Chinaswamy stadium, he said, 'The match happened last evening (Tuesday), and today (Wednesday) this event was organised by the cricket association. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came.' 'There were over 1.5 lakh people at the gates, banging and eventually breaking through in some places. The attempt to enter the stadium resulted in the stampede.' He added, 'There are small gates. The people entered through the gates. They have also broken the gates, so a stampede has taken place. Prima facie, it looks like that. I am not saying that nothing has happened. The inquiry will bring out facts.' BJP MP Tejasvi Surya criticised the Congress-led state government, accusing it of turning the celebration into a political spectacle without adequate preparation. 'The stampede was completely avoidable. It was state-orchestrated,' Surya said, alleging that an open invitation by CM Siddaramaiah on social media triggered an uncontrollable flood of fans without proper crowd and security measures in place. Also read | Bengaluru stampede: What led to deadly crush at RCB's IPL victory event? 'You cannot blame RCB, Virat Kohli, or even the fans. If there is anyone responsible, it is the CM and the deputy CM who wanted to hog undeserving limelight and made this an entire family function of the Congress leaders.' He questioned the value of the magisterial inquiry, 'Keep this 15-day report yourself in your house. Who cares? Will this 15-day magisterial report help these families?' Surya also appealed to the RCB management: 'It is the moral responsibility of RCB to also generously compensate the victims of this stampede. RCB and RCB's superstar cricketers have made hundreds of crores from the love of fans... now it is time for RCB to also be in terms of distress and challenge with the fans and their families.' Union minister HD Kumaraswamy blamed deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar directly. 'The person responsible for this tragedy must be immediately sacked from the cabinet,' he declared from New Delhi. Slamming the Congress-led administration, Kumaraswamy said, 'We have a Chief Minister who is completely inactive. He has no control over the Deputy CM... The Congress government is being run by arrogant fools.' The Board of Control for Cricket in India, meanwhile, denied any role in organising the event. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal said, 'We had no information that such an event was being planned... If such events are planned in the future, then proper arrangements should be made.' "We express condolences to the families of the deceased. A title win was to be celebrated; rather, the loss of lives is being mourned," Dhumal added. Rejecting accusations, he asked, 'How can we be held responsible? Have you seen any IPL officials at the gate, managing the crowd?' BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia added, 'There were some lapses. The BCCI has no role in it. But it's a lesson to learn.' The Bengaluru police conceded that they were overwhelmed. 'The crowd was beyond our control,' a senior officer told HT on condition of anonymity. Police said around 50,000 people packed a one-kilometre radius near the stadium. Narrow gates and mass pressure triggered the deadly crush. 'We had to resort to a lathi charge at some points... the pressure of the crowd caused the tragedy,' said the officer. Fans had started gathering as early as afternoon, climbing trees, scaling cars and walls, and screaming 'RCB! RCB!' in desperation for a glimpse of the players. While some had tickets, others with free passes reportedly forced their way in, contributing to the chaos. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar promised a detailed probe and claimed, 'We want to know the facts and give a clear message.' He also countered the BJP's attack, 'BJP is doing politics... We are very sorry for the incident. We will work out a better solution in the future.' The state cancelled all government events, including World Environment Day celebrations, in a show of mourning. Reiterating Siddaramaiah's sentiments, he said, 'We never expected such a big crowd. The stadium's capacity is 35,000, but over 3 lakh people were there. Gates have been broken. We apologise for this incident.' However, he defended the police force's efforts, saying, 'I should compliment my Police officers... they guided us not to bring a vehicle procession from the airport... we were very cautious at Vidhana Soudha too.' The tragedy unfolded rapidly on Wednesday afternoon as thousands of RCB fans thronged the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the team's IPL victory celebration.

James Gunn confirms Superman runtime; dismisses rumours of external edits
James Gunn confirms Superman runtime; dismisses rumours of external edits

Mint

time23 minutes ago

  • Mint

James Gunn confirms Superman runtime; dismisses rumours of external edits

Washington [US], June 5 (ANI): With the premiere of 'Superman' just around the corner, director and DC Studios co-head James Gunn has addressed lingering questions surrounding the film's runtime and rumours about studio interference. The eagerly awaited movie, set to launch on July 11, is one of the cornerstones of Gunn's new DC Universe (DCU) and marks the beginning of 'Chapter One: Gods and Monsters'. In a direct response to fan inquiries on the social media platform Threads, Gunn confirmed that the film's runtime, including credits and post-credit scenes, will be 2 hours and 9 minutes. The announcement came after a user asked if the 2-hour, 9-minute duration was accurate. Gunn clarified, "Inclusive of credits/post credits, the runtime is 2 hours 9 minutes." The director also took the opportunity to address a circulating rumour that Warner Bros. had forced him to shorten the film's runtime. Gunn categorically denied the claim and said, "Zero truth to that." He further emphasised that as a DC Studios film, the studio had no such influence over the project. "And they couldn't even if that's something that they wanted to. It's a DC Studios film," Gunn remarked, as quoted by Deadline. This restates any speculation that Warner Bros. played a role in trimming the movie. The upcoming 'Superman' film, written, directed, and co-produced by Gunn, will explore the journey of Clark Kent, portrayed by David Corenswet, as he grapples with his Kryptonian heritage and his life in Smallville with his adoptive family. The film represents a pivotal moment in the relaunch of the DC Universe under Gunn's leadership and will be the first film of the new DCU Chapter One. 'Superman' boasts an impressive ensemble cast. Alongside David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan will star as Lois Lane, while Nicholas Hoult will take on the iconic role of Lex Luthor. The film will also feature performances from Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt, aka Mister Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason/Metamorpho, and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, as per Deadline. Isabela Merced rounds out the cast as Kendra Saunders, also known as Hawkgirl. The film will also see several characters crossing over from the established DC Universe, including Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Maria Gabriela de Faria as Angela Spica (The Engineer), and Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, better known to fans as 'Supergirl'. With a diverse cast, Gunn's 'Superman' is set to be an exciting new chapter for the DC franchise. As the first film in the DC Universe's 'Chapter One: Gods and Monsters', 'Superman' is more than just a retelling of the 'Man of Steel's origin story. It promises to explore Clark Kent's internal conflict as he navigates the complexities of his dual identity, bridging the gap between his Kryptonian roots and his Earth-bound family and friends in Smallville. (ANI)

‘Fraud Marshal': Pakistanis Mock Their Army Chief On Global Stage With Times Square Billboard
‘Fraud Marshal': Pakistanis Mock Their Army Chief On Global Stage With Times Square Billboard

News18

time23 minutes ago

  • News18

‘Fraud Marshal': Pakistanis Mock Their Army Chief On Global Stage With Times Square Billboard

Last Updated: Promoted to Field Marshal after military failures, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir is now facing global mockery with a Times Square billboard by his own people A video showing a digital billboard in New York's Times Square went viral on social media this week, as many users shared footage of a truck-mounted screen publicly targeting Pakistan's military and political leadership. The video was widely shared on X, including by journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, whose post triggered strong reactions online. The billboard labelled Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir as a 'Fraud Marshal" and a 'Liar", while also calling former President Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif his 'two crooks." The display is being widely seen as a public embarrassment for Munir on the global stage, driven by sections of the Pakistani diaspora frustrated over recent military and political developments back home. Times Square illuminated with Liar Fraud Marshal Asim Munir – The deceiver with his two crooks – Zardari and Sharif! Bezatti of Munir at International level by Pakistani diaspora themselves after being defeated in Military confrontation by India badly. 🤣🤣🤣 🤣🤣🤣 — Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) June 5, 2025 The Messages On Display The rotating digital display, mounted on a truck, featured multiple pointed messages: 'THE DECEIVER & HIS TWO CROOKS" — with images of Munir, Zardari and Sharif. 'ILLEGALLY DETAINED FOR 2 YEARS" — showing Imran Khan behind bars. 'FRAUD MARSHAL", 'LIAR WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A POLL", and 'WILL DO ANYTHING FOR SELF-INTEREST" — directly attacking Munir. 'GOOD WORK MAKES YOU STAND TALL, NOT FAKE TITLES" — contrasting merit with Munir's ceremonial promotion. 'REAL HERO STANDING WITH IMRAN KHAN" — projecting Imran Khan as the true leader. The backdrop to this diaspora anger is the escalation between India and Pakistan in May 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir that left 26 people dead. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor — a military operation conducted in the early hours of 6-7 May. The strikes targeted terror camps linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, and The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar proxy, across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Over 100 terrorists, including top commanders like JeM leader Abdul Rauf Azhar and family members of Masood Azhar, were killed. The conflict lasted till May 10 afternoon when the Pakistan side requested a ceasefire in view of the heavy losses suffered by it in the attacks by the Indian Air Force. Munir's Controversial Promotion Fuels Criticism Amidst this backdrop, General Munir's promotion to Field Marshal — a five-star rank last held in Pakistan in 1959 — sparked widespread criticism, with detractors accusing the army chief of being rewarded despite the military setbacks. On social media, Munir has been widely mocked as a 'Failed Marshal." Imran Khan: The Flashpoint Imran Khan's continued imprisonment remains one of the most explosive flashpoints in Pakistan's ongoing political crisis. The former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was arrested in May 2023 on a series of charges ranging from corruption and illegal possession of state gifts to alleged leaking of state secrets. Khan and his supporters have consistently dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and part of a sustained crackdown orchestrated by the military establishment, led by Army Chief General Asim Munir. The rivalry between Khan and Munir predates his arrest, with reports indicating longstanding tensions since Munir's brief tenure as ISI chief during Khan's premiership. After Munir's appointment as Army Chief in late 2022, relations between PTI and the military sharply deteriorated, culminating in Khan's ouster and subsequent legal troubles. Multiple prison sentences and disqualifications have effectively sidelined Khan from electoral politics, while his party has faced widespread repression, with key leaders arrested, defected or forced underground. Despite the ongoing crackdown, Imran Khan continues to command substantial public support both domestically and among the overseas Pakistani community. For sections of the diaspora, his detention has become a symbol of the military's political overreach. The Times Square billboard campaign reflects how these grievances are being amplified internationally, with Khan projected as a 'real hero" standing against what his supporters describe as a corrupt military-political nexus now symbolised by Munir, Zardari, and Sharif. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Asim Munir Imran Khan Operation Sindoor Pakistani Military Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 05, 2025, 12:29 IST News world 'Fraud Marshal': Pakistanis Mock Their Army Chief On Global Stage With Times Square Billboard

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store