Op Sindoor Outreach: Delegation meets Japanese leaders, receives support for India's action
The delegation includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi and Brij Lal, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Barittas, and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid.
Their visit marks the beginning of India's unprecedented diplomatic campaign to expose Pakistan's sustained role in cross-border terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
In Tokyo, the delegation held key talks with Takashi Endo, Chairman of the Japanese House of Representatives Committee on National Security, and conveyed India's unified and resolute stance against terrorism in all its forms. Endo expressed Japan's strong solidarity with India in its fight against terror, according to the Indian Embassy.
The delegation also met Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who reiterated Tokyo's support and praised India's restraint in the face of provocation.
Iwaya emphasised the need to bring perpetrators of terror to justice and voiced strong support for India's response to the Pahalgam attack.
"Reiterated our national resolve to act firmly against terror and those who support it. Grateful for Japan's support and for calling for justice against perpetrators of such acts," Jha posted on X after the meeting.
He also felicitated the Japanese minister in traditional Mithila style.
Later, the delegation called on former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, currently Vice President of the ruling LDP and Chairman of the Japan-India Association. Suga reaffirmed Japan's commitment to support India in combating terrorism.
The delegation also interacted with prominent Japanese think tanks, briefing them on India's zero-tolerance policy and presenting detailed accounts of Pakistan's support for terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
The session saw strong expressions of support for India's stance on regional security and combating state-sponsored terrorism.
"This dialogue strengthens global partnerships rooted in peace, security, and shared democratic values," Jha said on X.
Earlier in the day, the Indian lawmakers were received by Ambassador Sibi George upon their arrival in Tokyo and briefed on the roadmap for strategic engagements with Japan's political, diplomatic, and civil society stakeholders.
The visit is part of the MEA-led global campaign involving seven high-level delegations comprising 59 MPs, former ministers, diplomats, and political leaders, visiting 33 countries between May 21 and June 5.
While Jha's group covers East and Southeast Asia, other delegations led by MP Shrikant Shinde and DMK leader Kanimozhi are visiting the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, aiming to build global consensus and isolate Pakistan diplomatically.
The campaign stands out as one of India's most extensive and unified diplomatic efforts against terrorism, promoting global accountability for state-backed terror networks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
10 minutes ago
- Hans India
BJP leader Surendran slams LDF, UDF on voter list allegations
Thrissur: Senior BJP leader and former Kerala state president K. Surendran on Wednesday ridiculed both the CPI(M)-led LDF and Congress-led UDF over their allegations of large-scale voter list manipulation in Thrissur, where Union Minister Suresh Gopi is the MP. Speaking to reporters in Thrissur, Surendran questioned how the state's two dominant political fronts remained silent if, as alleged, a party without even a single MLA in Kerala managed to add 60,000 "illegal" votes. "If you couldn't detect such a thing, you should hang yourselves," said Surendran. Surendran asserted that Suresh Gopi would not only win again in 2029 but also in 2034, with an even larger mandate, dismissing the current controversy as an attempt to dent the minister's popularity. "These allegations will only increase public support for him," he claimed. Explaining the BJP's position, Surendran pointed out that the Election Commission now allows three revisions of the voter list annually, compared to one earlier, and that any citizen residing in a constituency for over six months is eligible to register. "Suresh Gopi and his family had rented a house in Thrissur as part of his political work and duly transferred their votes there," added Surendran. He acknowledged that a small number of votes had been shifted from other districts but insisted the figures were negligible. "MLAs and MPs from both the Congress and CPI(M) have votes registered in multiple places. Why is this a problem only when it's Suresh Gopi?" he asked. The BJP leader also criticised the opposition for raising objections based on the claims of "a single woman" rather than following proper legal channels. He cited his own 2016 Assembly election loss by 89 votes, where he later proved 80 fake votes in court without creating a media uproar. "Whether the opposition likes it or not, Suresh Gopi will be here for the long run," Surendran declared, likening the BJP to a "majestic elephant" that would remain unshaken by "small jackals making noise".
Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Stories of India's freedom struggle through Tagore, Premchand and Manto
— Mohammad Asim Siddiqui The glorious chapter of India's freedom struggle has inspired many novelists and short story writers to produce works of great merit in both English and other Indian languages. Important episodes of the freedom movement appear in these novels and stories. Novelists like R.K. Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, Raja Rao and Khwaja Ahmad Abbas have also conceived characters in terms of Gandhian beliefs and ideals. Rabindranath Tagore's novel Ghare Baire (1916), translated into English as Home and the World, engages creatively with Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's Anandmath (1882). Tagore's novel is critical of the western idea of nationalism, advanced by a character called Sandip. Set against the backdrop of the Swadeshi movement in Bengal, the novel presents a nuanced view of the movement through Nikhilesh's and Sandip's different perspectives. Sandip, shown to be a hypocrite, preaches the idea of Swadeshi to his followers but possesses a shelf of Western medicines. Nikhilesh, on the other hand, has a more balanced view of the Swadeshi movement. Following the spirit of the movement, he writes with a quill and uses home-made furniture, but he also understands the need of poor hawkers and shopkeepers to sell foreign clothes and goods for their living. Premchand's many writings demonstrate his patriotism, his anti-colonial stance, his commitment to communal harmony, and his love of Gandhian philosophy. His first collection of stories in Urdu, Soz-e Watan (1908), published under the pen name 'Nawab Rai', was considered seditious by the British government and banned. His novel Karmabhumi (1932), set in the 1930s, explores the role of the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence in achieving social justice for the poor and the marginalised sections of society. Amarkant, the main character of the novel who represents Gandhi's idea of non-violence and his commitment to social justice, helps the Dalit villagers to fight for their rights and enter temples. Initially unable to understand Amarkant's ideology, his wife, Sukhada, later joins the movement. The novel also shows villagers' protests against unjust land taxes. Premchand's story 'Samar Yatra', written in the context of Gandhiji's Satyagraha and Dandi March, shows the impact of the movement on a village and the enthusiasm of ordinary villagers to welcome the Satyagrahis and their cause. The story also presents an old and ailing woman, Nohari, who welcomes the freedom fighters, overcoming her physical limitations. Premchand also wrote the play Karbala (1924) to bridge the growing differences between Hindus and Muslims. An important feature of this play is the inclusion of many Hindu characters fighting for the Prophet's grandson Hussain in the Battle of Karbala and sacrificing their lives for a righteous cause. In the play, Premchand presents a Hindu village in Saudi Arabia with a temple where Sahas Rai and his brothers perform a havan. Hussain, another character, and his companions praise the Hindu brothers, their religion, their country of origin and their ideals. Raja Rao's famous novel Kanthapura (1938) is as much known for his use of de-anglicised English as for his treatment of many Gandhian ideas in the novel. Set in a remote village in South India, the novel depicts the impact of Gandhi's non-violent struggle against British rule and his fight for social reform, including the eradication of untouchability. The figure of Gandhi in the novel possesses divine powers and is believed to alleviate the suffering of the people. Moorthy, the main character of the novel, is the Gandhi of the village and feels greatly inspired by his ideas and personality after having a vision of him: 'There is but one force in life and that is Truth, and there is but one love in life and that is the love of mankind, and there is but one God in life and that is the God of all.' Jayaramachar, a Harikatha performer in the novel, also talks about Gandhi's spiritual values, his social reforms, and his commitment to communal harmony: 'Fight, says he, but harm no soul. Love all, says he, Hindu, Mohammedan, Christian or Pariah, for all are equal before God. Don't be attached to riches, says he, for riches create passions, and passions create attachment and attachment hides the face of Truth.' Though Kanthapura is imbued with Gandhian ideology, an alternative view of Nehru's socialism can also be felt towards the end of the novel. Among the stories exploring events of the freedom movement, Saadat Hasan Manto's 'Naya Qanoon', '1919 ki ek Baat' and 'Tamasha' stand out as iconic stories. 'Naya Qanoon' indirectly refers to the Government of India Act 1935. It presents an interesting character called Mangu, a coachman who hates Englishmen and is considered very wise and knowledgeable in his circle. The story shows his high expectations of the new law and his hope for a change. However, his expectations are belied as his social and political position remains the same after the new law. 'Tamasha' and '1919 ki ek Baat' were written against the backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. 'Tamasha' is narrated from the point of view of a child and shows the brutal nature of a king, who symbolises British rule in the story. '1919 ke ek Baat', which was written in 1951, shows how Thaila, a person of seemingly questionable character and conduct, sacrifices his life for the country and achieves heroism in his death. Exposing the bloodthirsty nature of the British power, the story presents Gen. Dyer as the villain and Gandhi as a virtuous figure. Critic Alok Bhalla observes that for Manto, '1919 signifies the loss of the legitimacy of British rule'. Khwaja Ahmad Abbas's Inquilab (1955), promoted as the first great novel of the Indian revolution in its 1958 edition, portrays an important phase of India's fight against British colonialism. Also published in Urdu (1975), it depicts the landmark events such as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Bardoli Satyagraha in Gujarat, Dandi March and Civil- Disobedience movement, Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Round Table Conference. The novel also presents major leaders and freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Ali Brothers, Motilal and Jawaharlal Nehru and Bhagat Singh. Spanning the life of its main the protagonist Anwar from the age of eight to adulthood, the novel shows how his personality is shaped by the political events and the spirit of the freedom struggle. A major part of Attia Hosain's Sunlight on a Broken Column (1961), set in Lucknow of the 1930s, shows the interpersonal relationships of characters unfolding in an India witnessing major political transformation. Narrated by Laila, an educated girl from a taluqdar family, most of the characters in the novel also belong to an aristocratic set-up who gradually discover their political leanings. With the change in the political climate, the warm conversation of characters has been replaced by acrimonious discussions. Among Laila's group of friends, Nita is a loyalist, Nadira is closer to the Muslim League's ideology, Joan, an Anglo-Indian, has divided loyalties, and Romana, given to fashion and idle talk, is not interested in any political ideology. The novel depicts a demonstration of students chanting the slogans 'Inquilab Zindabad', 'British Raj Murdabad' and 'Azadi ki Jai'. Laila's cousin Asad, a nationalist and a believer in Gandhi's non-violence, participates in this demonstration and is injured by police's lathis. A contrast in attitudes towards the freedom struggle emerges when Laila calls the students' march a movement, while her uncle Hamid, a taluqdar of Awadh and a British loyalist, dismisses it as 'a demonstration of irresponsible hooliganism'. The last part of the novel also presents the division within families after Partition. Laila's cousin Kemal, who is committed to nationalist ideology, chooses to remain in India after Partition. His younger brother Saleem, given to propounding all kinds of grand theories, moves to Pakistan. Asad's younger brother Zahid, a Muslim League sympathiser, is killed during the Partition violence. An ironic view of the leaders of the freedom movement is presented by Shashi Tharoor in The Great Indian Novel (1989). In the novel, he transposes the story of the Mahabharata into the twentieth century and visualizes many well-known political figures as characters of the epic. In his creative retelling, Bhishma is recast as Mahatma Gandhi, Dhritarashtra as Jawaharlal Nehru, Pandu as Subhas Chandra Bose, Gandhari as Kamala Nehru, Vidura as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dronacharya as Jayaprakash Narayan. In what ways Munshi Premchand's writings demonstrate his patriotism, his anti-colonial stance, his commitment to communal harmony, and his love of Gandhian philosophy? Illustrate your answer with examples. How Raja Rao in his famous novel Kanthapura depicts the impact of Gandhi's non-violent struggle against British rule and his fight for social reform, including the eradication of untouchability. How does Saadat Hasan Manto's Naya Qanoon critique the promises and failures of colonial legal reforms? Do you think literature offers not just a kaleidoscopic portrait of India's freedom struggle, but also a critical insight into it? Support your answer with examples. (Mohammad Asim Siddiqui is a Professor in the Department of English at Aligarh Muslim University.) Share your thoughts and ideas on UPSC Special articles with Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
The Hindu
10 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Centre working on multi-Ministry export promotion scheme to counter Trump tariff impact
The Indian government is tweaking its earlier plans for an Export Promotion Mission to make it more targeted towards specific sectors in the wake of the increased tariffs imposed by the U.S. on imports from India, The Hindu has learnt. This would entail reducing the cost of credit for medium, small and micro enterprise (MSME) borrowers in the worst-hit sectors, expediting clearances, and providing them with some sort of export incentives. It is a joint effort across several Ministries and involves detailed consultations with industry stakeholders. The sectors which will face the brunt of the U.S. tariffs are apparel and textiles, shrimp exporters, organic chemicals, and machinery and mechanical appliances, according to an analysis by the Global Trade Research Initiative. Credit access, faster clearances 'The Export Promotion Mission announced in the latest Budget is being tweaked now to provide more help to particular sectors that are likely to be hit by the [U.S.] tariffs,' a senior government official told The Hindu, speaking on the condition of anonymity since the details of the scheme have not yet been finalised. 'The broad contours are to provide credit guarantees to MSME exporters, speed up their clearances, and there is some discussion on how to provide export incentives,' the official added. In the Union Budget for 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced an Export Promotion Mission with a ₹2,250 crore allocation for the current financial year, which would 'facilitate easy access to export credit, cross-border factoring support, and support to MSMEs to tackle non-tariff measures in overseas markets'. Wide consultations The government official confirmed that the tweaked Mission would include these targets as well, adding that the Mission was initially meant to be a coordinated effort between the Ministries of Commerce, Finance, and MSME, but would now also include coordination with the Ministry of Textiles and Department of Fisheries. Industry players have also confirmed that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been in regular touch with them to receive their feedback and inputs. Trade analysts, too, confirmed this. 'Internally, authorities are consulting extensively with exporters and sector representatives to fine-tune immediate relief measures and shape a long-term, resilient trade strategy capable of withstanding global shocks,' said Krishan Arora, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat. Focus on MSME exports Separately, a Finance Ministry official also confirmed that the Ministry was coordinating with others to come up with a scheme that could address some of the issues being faced by these exporters. The government had, as far back as January, announced a credit guarantee scheme for the MSME sector, which would cover loans up to ₹100 crore. The Finance Ministry official said that this scheme was being revamped to 'focus on the export aspects of these MSMEs' activities'.
