
CM Stalin to lead rally to honour soldiers' sacrifice
In a press statement, Stalin said the march would begin at 5 pm on Saturday from the Office of the Director General of Police in Chennai and culminate near the war memorial on Marina Beach. Former armed forces personnel, state ministers, students, and members of the public are expected to participate.
'This is a crucial moment for us to express our unity and unwavering support to the Indian Army, which has been bravely defending the nation against cross-border terrorism and incursions,' the CM said in the statement.
The march, he said, is aimed at saluting the courage, sacrifice, and commitment of the soldiers and strengthening the spirit of national unity. Calling upon the people of Tamil Nadu to join the march in large numbers, Stalin urged citizens to stand together in support of the armed forces. 'Let us honour our soldiers and send a strong message of solidarity from Tamil Nadu,' he said.
Meanwhile, CPI state secretary R Mutharasan assured the cadres of the party and its various wings would take part. He also appealed to the public to take part in the rally in large numbers.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
9 minutes ago
- Time of India
Open letter to Mr. Raj Thackeray
Ambreen is a well-known journalist and blogger. She has won several awards for her work. She has also worked with UNICEF and NASSCOM Foundation. As an Army wife, Ambreen has been involved in the welfare of retired soldiers, war widows, orphans and disabled soldiers. Ambreen, is the founder of an organisation called The Changemakers where she and her team identifies, mentors and guides the ex-servicemen, war widows war orphans, till they are firmly placed and secure in the professions of their choice. LESS ... MORE Mr. Thackeray, I write this with a lump in my throat and pain in my heart, because while thousands of our soldiers stand guard at our borders, prepared to sacrifice their lives for this nation, I watch leaders like you, relentlessly wage war within it. Your repeated targeting of non-Marathi speaking Indians, especially those from North India, has long ceased to be political rhetoric. It has now become a regular assault on the soul of our country. You speak of Marathi pride, but the way it is being weaponised against fellow Indians is not pride it's prejudice. Worse still, it's dangerous. Have you ever stood in front of a coffin draped in the Tricolour? I have. As an army wife, I have stood beside mothers from Bihar, fathers from Uttar Pradesh, sisters from Rajasthan, and wives from Jharkhand all mourning men who died for Maharashtra just as much as they did for Manipur. None of them asked where their sons would be posted. None of them asked whether mother tongue would be spoken where their loved ones bled. Because for them, every corner of India is home. Every fellow Indian is family. When our soldiers don the olive green uniform and kiss their children goodbye, they do so, knowing that they may not return. They do it for all of us, regardless of our language, region or religion. But in your world, Mr. Thackeray, we are suddenly 'outsiders.' The ones who must be vilified, humiliated, beaten back. All because we dared to migrate in search of dignity, work, or opportunity. But tell me, is migration a crime? Or is it only criminal when it involves people from North India? I have travelled with my husband from Leh to Shillong, from Amritsar to Andaman. In every part of this country, I have seen a shared pride in being Indian. In army units, accents may differ, food may vary, but there's one unshakable bond patriotism. Yet when I hear your speeches, I realise that the real danger to this nation may not lie across our borders, but within them in hearts that no longer beat for unity. While a soldier lays down his life protecting every inch of our beautiful country, you seem to carve it apart with your words, your politics, and your prejudice. You have every right to preserve the Marathi language, culture, and ethos. India is strong because of its diversity, not in spite of it. But not at the cost of vilifying other Indians. Not by turning Maharashtra into a no-entry zone for people who speak Hindi, Bhojpuri, or any other tongue. While our valiant soldiers stand tall on the frontlines, you and those who echo your mindset stand as mere caricatures in front of them. It is my request to sit back and reflect, try to use your politics to build, not break. Inspire pride, don't incite prejudice. Maharashtra deserves leadership that reflects the courage of Shivaji Maharaj, not the bitterness of division. If our solders can serve without bias, then surely, you can lead without hatred. India needs healing. It does not need hate. Jai Hind. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.


News18
23 minutes ago
- News18
Book reveals Israeli ministers covert 1977 talks with Desai, Vajpayee
New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) Then Israeli foreign minister Moshe Dayan came to India in 1977 on a clandestine visit, in disguise and under a false name, to meet prime minister Morarji Desai and his counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a failed attempt to establish diplomatic ties between the two countries, says a new book. The Israeli minister failed in his mission and left empty-handed. Visibly annoyed by the outcome, Dayan declined the parting gift of antique Indian silverware offered by his hosts, Abhishek Choudhary writes in 'Believer's Dilemma: Vajpayee and the Hindu Right's Path to Power". He flew out 'mocking India's poverty, cursing its rulers' moral cowardice", says the book that uncovers a little-known episode in India-Israel ties. The 'awkward meeting", the author notes, was a sign that for all its ambitions, the Janata government did not have the mandate or confidence to revamp India's foreign policy. Dayan's covert visit to India was 'top secret" as Desai feared it would lead to the collapse of the Janata government if made public. The meeting, held at a 'poorly furnished government house" in New Delhi, was so discreet that Vajpayee got to know of it only after Dayan landed. Even foreign secretary Jagat Mehta wasn't told anything. 'On the afternoon of 14 August, Israeli foreign minister, Moshe Dayan, alighted in New Delhi. He was travelling under a fake name and had disguised himself with dark glasses and a large straw hat. He was put up at a private residence in south Delhi's Safdarjung Enclave," reads the book, a sequel to Chaudhary's award-winning bestseller 'Vajpayee: The Ascent of the Hindu Right". The purpose of his visit: 'to advance talks on establishing diplomatic relations between India and Israel". India recognised Israel in 1950 but established full diplomatic relations with the country on January 29, 1992. 'As a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, India had some clout among the non-aligned nations. At the very least, Dayan was hoping to receive India's backing for the Israel-Egypt peace plans in the NAM, neutralizing India's longstanding support to the Arabs," the book adds. 'At India's request, the meeting was kept top secret. No other cabinet minister, not even Foreign Secretary Mehta, got a whiff of it. Morarji Desai thought that if the news of Dayan's visit became public, the Janata government would collapse," it claims. Janata Party, a political alliance formed in 1977 by various opposition groups, came into power in 1977 defeating Indira Gandhi's Congress after the Emergency period. Desai, who became the first non-Congress prime minister of India, remained in the office for 856 days — serving till 1979. Vajpayee, despite his long standing support for formal ties with Israel, appeared visibly uneasy during the meeting with Dayan. According to Desai — who shared the episode months later with Indian diplomat I.K. Gujral, then India's ambassador to the USSR — Vajpayee was 'terrified" about the implications of the encounter and was told 'not to worry". Desai, however, remained steadfast in rejecting Dayan's overtures. While acknowledging that India had recognised Israel in 1950, Desai made it clear that full diplomatic relations could only be considered 'only after peace came to the region". He reiterated India's longstanding support for a Palestinian state and resisted even minimal gestures, such as opening an Israeli consulate in Delhi. 'Both Vajpayee and Desai argued that such a step would be misinterpreted, leading to 'unnecessary complications in diplomatic relations with West Asia'… He (Desai) suggested Dayan meet Vajpayee during the conferences in the US and Europe but refused to risk sending his foreign minister, formally or secretly, to his country," the book recounts. Following the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, an embassy opened in New Delhi, and the consulate in Mumbai — operational since 1953 — became a consulate-general. 'Believer's Dilemma", priced at Rs 999, is described by publishing house PanMacmillan India as a political history of contemporary India covering the crucial period between 1978–2018 — 'a transformative 40-year span that saw the Hindu Right move from the fringes into the corridors of power". PTI MG MIN MIN (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 17:00 IST 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.


News18
25 minutes ago
- News18
EU imposes sanctions on Rosnefts India refinery, lowers oil price cap
New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) The European Union on Friday imposed sanctions on the Indian oil refinery of Russian energy giant Rosneft and lowered the oil price cap, as part of a new raft of measures against Russia over its war in Ukraine. The fresh sanctions package on Russia included new banking restrictions, and curbs on fuels made from Russian crude oil. The lowered oil price cap – currently set at USD 60 per barrel – means Russia will be forced to sell its crude at reduced rates to buyers like India. As the second-largest purchaser of Russian oil, India stands to benefit from this move. Russian crude currently accounts for nearly 40 per cent of India's total oil imports. 'For the first time, we're designating a flag registry and the biggest Rosneft refinery in India," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on X. Rosneft owns 49.13 per cent stake in Nayara Energy Ltd, formerly Essar Oil Ltd. Nayara owns and operates a 20 million tonne a year oil refinery at Vadinar in Gujarat as also over 6,750 petrol pumps. An investment consortium SPV, Kesani Enterprises Company holds 49.13 per cent stake in Nayara. Kesani is owned by Russia's United Capital Partners (UCP) and Hara Capial Sarl, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mareterra Group Holding (formerly Genera Group Holding S.p.A.). 'We are standing firm. The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions package against Russia to date," Kallas said. 'We're cutting the Kremlin's war budget further, going after 105 more shadow fleet ships, their enablers, and limiting Russian banks' access to funding." Among the sanctions announced were ban on Nord Stream pipelines, and a lower cap on price at which Russian can export oil. In December 2022, the Group of Seven (G7) nations imposed a USD 60 a barrel price cap on Russian oil sold to third countries. Under this mechanism, Western insurance and shipping services could only be used if the oil was sold at or below the capped price. The goal was to restrict Russia's oil revenues while maintaining stability in global energy supplies. However, the cap faced criticism for being largely ineffective in achieving its intended impact. The European Union and Britain had been pushing to lower the price cap after a fall in global oil prices made the current USD 60 cap nearly irrelevant. While Kallas did not specify the new price cap, reports suggest it will initially be set between USD 45 and USD 50, with automatic revisions at least twice a year based on market conditions. While the lower price cap stands to benefit importing countries like India, continued purchases may be at risk if the US follows through on its threat of sanctions. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump warned that nations buying Russian exports could face sanctions or steep tariffs if Moscow does not reach a peace agreement with Ukraine within 50 days. Russia typically supplies crude oil to India on a delivered basis – handling both shipping and insurance for the cargo and vessels. Under the price cap mechanism, Russia kept the official invoice price of crude below USD 60 per barrel to comply with sanctions, but charged higher rates for transportation services. This practice has allowed it to effectively realize prices closer to market rates despite the cap. The oil price cap was widely viewed as ineffective, as much of Russia's crude was being transported via a 'shadow fleet'—vessels operating outside the control of G7-based shipping services. A significant portion of Russia's seaborne oil exports was reportedly carried by tankers that were not flagged, owned, or operated by companies based in the G7, EU, Australia, Switzerland, or Norway, and were not insured by Western protection and indemnity clubs. The oil price cap was also widely viewed as ineffective, as much of Russia's crude was being transported via a 'shadow fleet' – vessels operating outside the control of G7-based shipping services. A significant portion of Russia's seaborne oil exports was reportedly carried by tankers that were not flagged, owned, or operated by companies based in the G7, EU, Australia, Switzerland, or Norway, and were not insured by Western protection and indemnity clubs. Russia's shadow tanker fleet expanded as the steep discounts on its crude oil narrowed – from record levels of around USD 40 per barrel below Dated Brent in 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine, to just USD 3–4 per barrel currently. 'We are putting more pressure on Russia's military industry, Chinese banks that enable sanctions evasion, and blocking tech exports used in drones," Kallas said. 'Our sanctions also hit those indoctrinating Ukrainian children. We will keep raising the costs, so stopping the aggression becomes the only path forward for Moscow." Europe imports fuels like diesel and petrol from India. Indian refiners typically buy large amounts of Russian crude, which is refined to fuels like petrol and diesel and exported to EU. Oil income is the linchpin of Russia's economy , allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the armed forces without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse. Other measures adopted by EU include sanctions on dozens more vessels in Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers, bringing the total above 400, as well as on several entities and traders that work with the covert fleet. Besides more goods have been added to existing export lists of restricted items used by Moscow's war machine while sanctions have been imposed on several entities, including in China and elsewhere, that are seen to aid Russia skirt the bloc's trade and energy restrictions. Also targeted was the Nord Stream pipelines between Russia and Germany to prevent Moscow from generating any revenue from them in future. The pipelines were built to carry Russian natural gas to Germany but are not in operation. The sanctions also targeted Russia's banking sector, with the aim of limiting the Kremlin's ability to raise funds or carry out financial transactions. Two Chinese banks were added to the list. PTI ANZ ANU (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 14:45 IST News agency-feeds EU imposes sanctions on Rosnefts India refinery, lowers oil price cap 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.