MEA flags NATO's double standards
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The external affairs ministry on Thursday cautioned against "double standards" while pushing back against the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ( NATO ) secretary general Mark Rutte's threat of possible secondary sanctions on India for maintaining trade ties with Russia."We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate that securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us," spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said during the weekly media briefing here. "In this endeavour, we are guided by what is available in the markets and also by prevailing global circumstances. We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter." MEA said it had been in "constant touch with local authorities" in Yemen and was providing "all possible assistance" in the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse on death row in the West Asian country. "This is a sensitive matter and the Government of India has been offering all possible assistance," Jaiswal said. MEA said it had appointed a lawyer to assist Priya's family, arranged regular consular access and worked to secure more time to reach a "mutually agreeable solution" with the victim's family. The execution, scheduled for July 16, was postponed following these efforts, which included engagement with friendly foreign governments.
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- Scroll.in
‘Atrocious and terrible': TMC expresses shock at detention of Bengali-speaking workers in Gurugram
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she was shocked at reports alleging that several migrant Bengali-speaking workers were being detained in Gurugram in Haryana. 'This is atrocious and terrible,' the Trinamool Congress chief said on X. 'We are not going to tolerate this.' On July 19, the police in Gurugram detained at least 74 migrant workers on the suspicion that they were from Bangladesh, The Wire reported. Of these, 11 were from West Bengal and 63 from Assam. The workers have been detained at a municipal community centre in Gurugram's Sector 10A, Newslaundry reported. Amid the crackdown, hundreds of migrant workers have reportedly fled Gurugram for fear of being detained. Since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Bengali-speaking migrant workers have been rounded up by the police in several states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party and asked to prove that they are Indian citizens. In some cases, individuals who were mistakenly sent to Bangladesh returned to the country after state authorities in India proved that they were Indians. Banerjee on Thursday said she also received reports from other states like Rajasthan about West Bengal residents being 'pushed' into Bangladesh although they had official documentation. 'There are tortures and tortures on hapless poor Bengali workers from West Bengal in these States,' she said. '…Stop this linguistic terror.' Have been increasingly receiving reports of detentions of and atrocities on our Bengali-speaking people from different districts of West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. West Bengal police is receiving these reports from Haryana police in the name of requests for identity searches.… — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 24, 2025 In a similar vein, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra asked whether the Sector 10A community centre was being used as an illegal detention camp. 'This is illegal,' she asserted, 'This is like living in Nazi Germany, where the Jews were being completely terrorised and [were] living in constant fear of being picked up and put in camps.' Moitra said that migrant workers could not be branded as Bangladeshis merely because they spoke in Bengali. Attention! Migrant workers from Bengal being picked up illegally by @gurgaonpolice, is Sector 10 A community center an illegal detention camp? Maids, cooks, menial workers living in complete terror. #NaziGermany — Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 24, 2025 Commenting on the allegations, Gurugram Police Public Relations Officer Sandeep Kumar was quoted as saying by The Wire that the 'suspected immigrants' were being held as per government guidelines, and claiming that they were not being detained. However, he did not specify what the guidelines were. 'They are not detained,' Kumar was quoted as saying by the news portal. 'As per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs [MHA], certain holding centres have been created, and suspected Bangladeshis are being kept there. All basic necessities, including medical facilities, are being provided to them at the centres.'
News18
10 minutes ago
- News18
India-UK Deal, ‘Chai Pe Charcha', Cricket & EPL: PM Modi's Day Out With Starmer At Chequers
Curated By : Shankhyaneel Sarkar Last Updated: July 24, 2025, 21:46 IST Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have a cup of tea during a business showcase event at Chequers near Aylesbury, England. (IMAGE: REUTERS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met at Chequers, the British PM's country residence, on Thursday for a business showcase event where the two leaders formally concluded the long-awaited India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The deal was signed after a high-level delegation meeting attended by top officials from both sides led by the respective prime ministers. The moment was marked by a casual yet symbolic tea break at a stall named 'Amala Chai," where PM Modi and UK PM Starmer were seen enjoying a cup of tea together. Shortly after the interaction, PM Modi shared photos from the event on X, writing: ''Chai Pe Charcha' with PM Keir Starmer at Chequers…brewing stronger India-UK ties! @Keir_Starmer." The gathering at Chequers also featured an interaction with players from the Buckinghamshire Street Cricket Hubs, highlighting the role of sport in building people-to-people connections. India and the UK are connected by a shared passion for cricket. At Chequers, PM Keir Starmer and I interacted with players from Buckinghamshire Street Cricket Hubs. Great to see sport fostering people-to-people ties between our nations. Also gave my young friends a bat signed… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2025 'India and the UK are connected by a shared passion for cricket," Prime Minister Modi said. 'At Chequers, PM Keir Starmer and I interacted with players… Great to see sport fostering people-to-people ties between our nations. Also gave my young friends a bat signed by the Indian cricket team which won the T20 World Cup." The tea and cricket-themed diplomacy followed the formal announcement of the FTA, a deal described as a milestone by both governments. Swipe Left For Next Video View all Modi said the agreement would enhance Indian exports in sectors such as textiles, footwear, gems, jewellery and seafood, while enabling Indian consumers to access British products like medical devices and aerospace components more affordably. He added that the deal would 'create new job opportunities" and benefit 'India's youth, farmers, fishermen, and MSMEs." Starmer called the FTA 'the most significant deal the UK has signed since leaving the EU," saying it would 'boost wages, raise living standards and put more money in the pockets of working people." He also said the agreement sends a clear message that 'the UK is open for business". Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More view comments News world India-UK Deal, 'Chai Pe Charcha', Cricket & EPL: PM Modi's Day Out With Starmer At Chequers Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘We feel safe in India': Amid controversy, Bangladeshi Matuas held in Pune apply for citizenship under CAA
Amid allegations of migrants from West Bengal (WB) being harassed in BJP ruled states, a Matua family from Bangladesh has applied for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), after they were taken in by Pimpri Chinchwad police earlier this month for inquiry in Pune district. 'We are afraid of going to Bangladesh due to the violence against Hindus. Situation is not good there. We are safe in India. Even Shaikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, had to flee and take shelter in India,' said Kishor Biswas, a member of the family who has applied for citizenship. In the first week of July, 40-year-old Kishor, his wife Bonita, brother-in-law Arush alias Bonomali Adhikary and Arush's wife Priyanka were held for inquiry in Wakad by the Pimpri Chinchwad police on the suspicion they were Bangladeshi nationals. The family belongs to the Matua community, a Hindu religious sect, primarily composed of Namasudras, a Scheduled Caste (SC) in Bangladesh. Police said they found nothing incriminating against Kishor, who claims to be a West Bengal resident, but a restriction order was issued against his wife and others, as documents of Bangladeshi identity were allegedly recovered from their possession. Referring to the action against the Matua family, the TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam, called the BJP led Maharashtra government 'anti–Bengali'. Islam is also the chairman of the West Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board. On July 15, Islam posted on his X account, 'Now, members of our beloved Matua community have been facing harassment by the anti-Bengali BJP government in Maharashtra….Recently, our office at the West Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board received information about police harassment of at least six members of the Matua community from North 24 Parganas, currently residing in Pune, Maharashtra…' 'We have already reached out to the affected family, who confirmed that the police in BJP-ruled Maharashtra have detained Arush Adhikary and at least five others including minors, on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals,' he posted. Refuting the allegations, a senior police officer said they found Bangladeshi national identity cards of Arush and his wife Priyanka, along with a Bangladeshi birth certificate of his sister Bonita, who is married to Kishor Biswas. Police also found their Indian documents like Aadhaar cards, suspected to have been procured through 'agents'. A police officer said action was initiated against the Bangladeshi citizens as per the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) directives issued in May this year. FRO of Pimpri Chinchwad police issued a restriction order for Arush, Priyanka and Bonita. But the police did not deport the Matua family, like other illegal Bangladeshi migrants, because Kishor submitted an application under the CAA, as per which Hindus or persecuted minorities from Bangladesh, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, can seek Indian citizenship. Kishor said the Matua community in West Bengal contacted lawyers in Pune, who helped him file the CAA form online. He then submitted a letter, attached with his CAA form, to DCP Shivaji Pawar on July 15, requesting the police to halt the deportation of his wife and two children Bebika (9) and Kiyan (4), both born in Pune. Police said Kishor did not have any Bangladeshi ID. But in his CAA form, he mentioned Bangladesh as his birth place. Police are now waiting for the government's instructions over his CAA application. Lawyers Sanket Rao and Khetaram Solankii, who assisted Kishor, said the Central Government should consider the CAA application of the Matuas and ensure they are not deported to Bangladesh. 'We also want to help Aarush's family in filing CAA form,' said Rao. Police said Aarush was operating a 'clinic', providing treatment for ailments like piles through 'ayurvedic' medicines. While he was initially restricted at Wakad police station, his wife and seven-month-old baby, sister and her children were allowed to stay at Kishor's house in Rahatani. When the Indian Express visited the house, the Matuas said they were cooperating with the police and there was no harassment by cops. Kishor said, 'I do not remember exactly, but I migrated to West Bengal from Bangladesh when I was around six years old, after my parents passed away. I grew up in West Bengal with my relatives. I have an Indian Adhaar card and other documents.' Kishor said he got married to Bonita of Khulna in Bangladesh and brought her to India using valid passports. 'We later shifted to Pune. My children go to school. My wife does tailoring work. I helped Arush in medicinal work,' he said. Arush's wife Priyanka claimed she migrated to India after marriage, but her husband has been in India for a long time and that his father even owns a property in West Bengal. She said Arush was doing a course at Bharati Vidyapeeth in Pune. Arush's brother is a resident of Karnataka, police said. Arush and Kishor have identity cards issued to them by the 'All India Matua Mahasangha', bearing signatures of Santanu Thakur, a BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Shipping. Thakur is a prominent Matua leader from West Bengal. He was not available for comment. A huge number of Matuas migrated to India during partition, later during the creation of Bangladesh. Many Matuas are known to have families and properties in Bangladesh, as well as in West Bengal and so they are often found migrating to both places. Getting Indian citizenship is one of the long-standing demands of the Matua community. Being influential in multiple districts in West Bengal, be it the BJP or the TMC, the key political parties in the state have been wooing the Matua community. The Matua community is believed to have helped the BJP win most of the SC constituencies in Bengal in 2019, after the party had promised to implement CAA. The Matuas are a composite caste whose social evolution is linked to the movement started by Sri Harichand Thakur. The movement originated in erstwhile Bangladesh and revolves around Harichand Thakur and his teaching. At present both West Bengal and Bangladesh have Matua populations. Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007. Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the 'Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation' in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the 'Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry'. ... Read More
