Racism won't win: Ireland vows action after assault on Indians
The Embassy highlighted the significant contributions of the Indian community in Ireland, noting, "Over 100,000 Indians now call Ireland home. Our society is enriched by the diversity of people who live in Ireland, particularly our Indian community, whose contributions continue to deepen the bonds between our nations."In response to these events, the Irish authorities have maintained ongoing communication with the Indian mission in Dublin and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs is actively engaging with the country's police force.According to the Embassy, the Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs are scheduled to meet with Indian community representatives to discuss the situation and enhance community safety measures.
The Indian Embassy in Dublin responded to the attacks by issuing a safety advisory on August 1, urging Indian citizens to avoid deserted areas and remain vigilant. The advisory comes amid a series of reported assaults, including the attack on a 51-year-old Indian-origin man, Laxman Das, in Dublin.In recent weeks, several other incidents have raised alarms, such as the attack on a six-year-old Indian-origin girl in Waterford city and a cab driver in Dublin's Ballymun suburb. The latter involves an assault where the victim was told to "go back to your own country," underscoring the racial undertones of some attacks.According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Ireland is a popular destination for Indian students pursuing higher education, with around 10,000 Indian students enrolled in Irish educational institutions. - EndsMust Watch
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Hans India
15 minutes ago
- Hans India
Human madness and nature's fury sounding the death-knell of hills
India's hill states are collapsing under the combined weight of political negligence, unscientific development, and ecological disregard. The recent disaster in Dharali, Uttarkashi is not an isolated event—it's a brutal reminder of what happens when nature's limits are ignored. From reckless highway projects to unchecked deforestation, fragile ecosystems are being sacrificed at the altar of vote-bank development and tourist revenue. Despite multiple expert reports warning of imminent collapse, neither Parliament nor the media seem interested. This op-ed exposes how greed, distraction politics, and environmental apathy are pushing the Himalayas to the brink—and how continued silence from our leaders could make disasters like Dharali the new normal across India's hill regions On one hand, the Himalayas groan under the assault of unrestrained development. On the other, political discourse drowns in absurd distractions, ignoring nature's growing fury. The opposition echoes Donald Trump—his baseless peace claims, laughable remark that India's economy is 'dead,' or ignorant comments about Operation Sindhoor. This blind parroting erodes India's dignity on the world stage. But the real war is in the mountains. Not with guns—but with concrete, bulldozers, and ignorance. What's being called progress is mutilating the Himalayas—guardians of the Indian subcontinent for millennia. Cloudbursts, landslides, flash floods, and glacial lake outbursts are no longer rare—they are all nature's retaliation. The August 5 disaster in Dharali, Uttarkashi, was another warning. A catastrophic cloudburst unleashed a deluge that swept away homes, hotels, shops, and roads. Nature declared: 'Exploit us endlessly, and you won't survive.' Every time the Kheer Gad River swells, villagers don't run—they climb rooftops to watch what's left. The river, a trickle for most of the year, becomes a monster when cloudbursts hit Srikanth Parvat. It rips through lives and landscapes. Locals remember time not by festivals or elections—but by floods. The flood of 2010 that soaked the school; 2012 took a shop; 2018 buried orchards and now in 2025, the market vanished in 34 seconds. Two days later, the scale is evident: a 500-metre-wide swathe buried under 50 feet of sludge. Two bodies recovered, while 16 were missing, including nine army personnel. SDRF IG Arun Mohan Joshi calls it an unprecedented operation, with debris as high as rooftops. The army had to airlift a JCB to Matli using a Chinook helicopter. From 2010 to 2018, despite destruction, no lives were lost. Nature, it seemed, was being merciful. But not any longer. Cloudbursts are now routine. Climate change plays a role, but the deeper blame lies in reckless, unplanned human interference in one of Earth's most fragile ecosystems. Central and State governments must face the reality. Deforestation, unregulated construction, slope blasting, and unscientifically built roads are pushing the region to collapse. Dharali is not alone. From Uttarkashi to Chamoli, Kinnaur to Mandi—entire districts are under siege from their own governments. The mountains once nurturing rivers and civilisations are now being blasted apart in the name of 'development.' Even the Supreme Court has warned: if this continues, Himachal Pradesh may vanish—not literally, but ecologically. With steep slopes and fragile soil, the state is already vulnerable. Cut down forests, dig tunnels, build hotels on riverbanks, dump waste in streams—and expect nature to retaliate. Tourism, though economically vital, has become a double-edged sword. The uncontrolled boom in hotels, lodges, and homestays—many dangerously perched on unstable and vulnerable slopes—has reduced the land's capacity to absorb floods. These structures clog natural drainage, creating deadly bottlenecks. Lack of proper EIAs, poor drainage, and unchecked mining make every rainfall a potential catastrophe. Still, we dig deeper and build higher-racing toward environmental suicide. It's not ignorance—we know better. Several landmark reports have warned us: The National Landslide Risk Management Strategy (2019) urged hazard zonation, slope stability norms, and improved building codes. The Gadgil Committee Report (2011) recommended protecting ecologically sensitive zones in the Western Ghats. The Kasturirangan Committee Report (2013), though diluted, still called for strong regulation. But these reports ask for restraint—and restraint doesn't win elections. Our politics, driven by greed and showmanship, ignores science. Many politicians themselves are invested in the real estate industry. Debates on ecological collapse are buried under noise about Trump's ramblings or social media squabbles. Legislatures have become battlegrounds for vendettas, not platforms for national survival. Do MPs from Uttarakhand or Himachal even know what the Gadgil or NDMA reports say? Have they ever raised these issues? Or are their voices drowned out by bulldozers and hollow slogans? The media is equally complicit. It treats disasters like Dharali as just breaking news—some shocking visuals, a noisy panel, and then silence. No accountability. No follow-up. Just another TRP spike. But Dharali is part of a larger pattern. Blasting for the Char Dham highway has destabilised slopes and filled valleys with debris. Thousands of trees have been cut. Without roots holding soil, even moderate rain can unleash deadly landslides. Natural drainage channels are blocked by construction debris and mining waste. So, when it rains, water floods villages instead of flowing into rivers. Villagers have long warned about this. Ecology experts have pleaded. But bulldozers speak louder than warnings. Asphalt is laid. Mountains bleed silently. It's time we stop calling these 'natural disasters.' These are man-made catastrophes—entirely preventable, tragically predictable. Had we followed sustainable designs, conducted proper environmental assessments, reforested slopes, and regulated construction, much of the Dharali devastation could've been avoided. But the greed of real estate and the hospitality industry and gross negligence by the state government in permitting large scale constructions like star hotels in the riverbed and laying of roads and providing infrastructural facilities is highly condemnable. Development is necessary but for that one need not exploit the riverbed and add to the miseries. Hotels and motels should be constructed at safer places and during non-flood period tourists can be brought there by buses or private vehicles to enjoy nature and go back safely. The mountains are not mute landscapes for plunder. They are living ecosystems with limits and laws. Break them, and consequences are swift. Hope all the politicos who are into real estate will learn some lessons and open their eyes at least now. The Modi-led government at the Centre and all Chief Ministers of hill states should immediately address this issue on a war-footing if they are serious about protecting nature and prevent tragedies. Dharali's destruction is more than a flood. It is a message—delivered in stone and water. If we continue this blind, arrogant path, the next disaster may not leave survivors to reflect on our folly. We must shed the illusion of dominion over nature. The Himalayas, Western Ghats and Aravallis are not just terrain—they are the lungs and spines of the subcontinent. Treat them with reverence or prepare for a future where disasters become our national calendar. Because mountains always maintain the score—and we are losing. (The author is former Chief Editor of The Hans India)
Hans India
15 minutes ago
- Hans India
Centre's take on age of consent issue is bang on
The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre has done exceedingly well while reiterating its objections to reducing the age of consent from 18 years to 16 years to help 'protect children from exploitation and abuse' in a more authoritative manner. Its contention is quite right in that any further lowering of the existing age would open the floodgates to trafficking and other sordid forms of child abuse apart from diluting the statutory presumption of vulnerability that lies at the heart of child protection law. A grim reality and the country's bane are that many victims don't open or approach higherups because the perpetrators happen to be people known to them, including from within the family, neighbourhood or school. They bear the trauma and anguish in silence because of fear that they would be subject to more harrowing times up ahead. However, there are contrasting opinions as regards consensual sex between adolescents aged 16 to 18 years. The Centre relies on the fact that deep-rooted Indian laws offer an unambiguous intent to provide a 'robust, non-negotiable shield' to minors against any form of sexual exploitation. This issue has shot to prominence following the contentions of eminent lawyer and amicus curiae Indira Jaising, who argued that consensual sexual activity between adolescents aged 16 to 18 should not be classified as 'abuse' or criminalised under the POCSO Act. Incidentally, the Law Commission of India has cautioned against lowering the age of consent. Instead, it suggested a guided judicial discretion in cases involving tacit approval of children in the 16-18 age group. Handling a case related to a similar issue, the Supreme Court had ruled that consensual sexual activity between minors, where there is no coercion or deception, does not automatically constitute rape under Indian law. The question is how and who will decide on aspects like 'consensual' and 'coercion'. One can never know the truth as it will remain unknown to any third person given the dicey nature of the experience. According to a 2007 central survey data, 53.22 per cent of children reported facing one or more forms of sexual abuse. It will be in the fitness of things if one goes beyond the age of consent issue. A rethink on the major and minor status can have serious ramifications in other fields and bring back the gory days of long held social taboos like child marriages. If a rise in trafficking is a possibility so also are the chances of more road accidents if vehicles are driven by 16-old-old kids. In the United Kingdom and many European nations, the age of consent for any form of sexual activity is 16 years regardless of the gender. Maybe this uniformity (unlike the 21 years for boys and 18 for girls in India) needs to be deeply investigated. The Centre has assured to come up with a comprehensive defence mechanism whereby the norms are strictly complied with. If one goes by what has been happening one wonders if any such 'categorical' legal measures would have any meaningful relevance. Despite 'stringent' existing laws, we continue to hear of child marriages in Rajasthan and Gujarat, there is no check on minors plying vehicles and there is no end to the problem of child-labour. The last remains rampant because the 'employers' are quite liberal in keeping the authorities in good humour. More than reworking on laws, it would be better if the authorities swear by the existing laws and punish accordingly.
Hans India
15 minutes ago
- Hans India
PM Modi speaks to Putin as Trump ups tariff threat
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over phone during which the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia. Putin briefed Modi on his country's ongoing conflict with Ukraine, with the prime minister reiterating India's consistent position for its peaceful resolution. The conversation between the two leaders came amid US President Donald Trump ratcheting up pressure on India over its purchase of Russian oil. Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order, slapping an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for the purchase of Russian oil, bringing the total duties to 50 per cent -- among the highest imposed by the US on any country in the world. The additional 25 per cent duty will come into effect on August 27. In a post on X, Modi said, "Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. "We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year." It will be the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, "President Putin briefed the PM on the latest developments concerning Ukraine". "While thanking President Putin for his detailed assessment, the prime minister reiterated India's consistent position for peaceful resolution of the conflict," it said. The two leaders also reviewed progress in the bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Modi invited President Putin to India later this year for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, the MEA said. According to sources, National Security Advisor (NSA)) Ajit Doval has said during his meetings in Moscow that dates for Putin's visit to India are being worked out. In Russia, Doval held talks with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu and other senior officials, which focused on bilateral energy and defence cooperation as well as Putin's visit to India. Prime Minister Modi had travelled to Russia twice last year for an annual summit with Putin and to attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan. Modi on Thursday also received a phone call from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose country has also been at the receiving end of Trump's tariffs. The two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, technology, energy, defence, agriculture, health, and people-to-people ties.
