Security forces above your politics, PR: Rahul Gandhi jabs PM at Op Sindoor debate
advertisementRahul Gandhi said that the Government of India told Pakistan that their military infrastructure wouldn't be attacked by Indian forces.
Rahul Gandhi demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on US President Donald Trump's claims of truce during the India-Pakistan conflict.
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Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Govt aims to accelerate pace of highway construction to 100 km/day: Gadkari
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said the government's aim is to accelerate the pace of highway construction to 100 km a day from 38 km/day at present. Speaking at the Business Today India@100 event, Gadkari said so far this year, the road ministry has awarded highways projects worth ₹2.5 lakh crore, and by March next year, it will award highways projects worth ₹10 lakh crore. "Currently, the pace of National Highways construction in India is 38 km/day. We aim to accelerate the pace of highway construction to 100 km a day. This is our target, whether it will happen next year, I can not say," he said. The ministry constructed 10,660 km of national highways in 2024-25, 12,349 km in 2023-24 and 10,331 km in 2022-23. Responding to the growing concern over social media about E20, rolled out by the government, is damaging the vehicle and there is no reduction in fuel cost, Gadkari rejected the claim, saying that the petroleum sector is lobbying against this move. "I challenge, if anyone has faced difficulty in his vehicle on account of mixing of ethanol in petrol," Gadkari, who is known for his frank views, said. The minister further said that Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) conducts trials and comes up with reports before the government takes a call on ethanol blending. Currently, Indian vehicles can run on E20 petrol with minor changes to the engine to prevent corrosion and other issues. In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol. The Indian government will introduce guidelines for 27 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by the end of August. Ethanol, which can be produced from sugarcane, broken rice and other agricultural products, is expected to help reduce India's dependence on foreign oil. India is currently the world's third-largest oil consumer and imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil requirements, making it vulnerable to geopolitical vagaries that can impact crude prices. Gadkari reiterated that his aim is to make India's automobile industry number one in the world. The size of the Indian automobile industry is now ₹22 lakh crore. Presently, the size of the US automobile industry is ₹78 lakh crore, followed by China (₹47 lakh crore) and India (₹22 lakh crore). According to the minister, the automobile industry has created 4.5 crore jobs till now -- the highest in the country. Gadkari also said the days are not far away when prices of electric vehicles (EVs) will be less than those of petrol vehicles in the country within six months. The minister also said India's logistics cost will come down to 9 per cent by December this year. In China, the logistics cost is 8 per cent, and in the US and European countries, it is 12 per cent, the minister said. Gadkari also emphasised the need to increase the productivity of the agriculture sector. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India must not yield to US pressure in trade talks: Amitabh Kant
India should never lose its strategic autonomy, never yield to pressure while negotiating trade deals with the US, former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said on Friday, while suggesting that the country should look at a long-term perspective and behave in a calm and collected manner. Speaking at the Business Today India@100 event, Kant said India should use trade-related uncertainties as a unique opportunity to carry out very vigorous reforms in the economy. "We still have 20 days for these (US) tariffs to kick in. We should never yield to pressure, but we should negotiate in a very rational manner, in a sensible manner, and I think there is plenty of time to be able to arrive at an agreement," he said. On August 6, the United States announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on all Indian imports, on top of an existing 25 per cent duty, taking the total duty to 50 per cent effective August 27. The White House said the measure was in response to India's continued purchase of Russian oil. "My view is that we should never lose our strategic autonomy. We have never lost that strategic autonomy, even during the Cold War period. "And India should never bend, but we should behave in a very cool, calm and collected manner, as is being done at present. And we should look at a long-term perspective on this," Kant said. The former NITI Aayog CEO also said there is a critical need to simplify the goods and services tax (GST) regime and eliminate unnecessary rules and procedures -- especially at the state level. "Even startups are taking too long just to register. My key message: no rules, no policies, no laws more than two pages," he said. Kant also pitched for radically improving the personal income tax on which a lot of work has already been done. US President Donald Trump's "dead economy" jibe, he said India is anything but a dead economy because India is the fastest-growing large economy. "We are the fourth largest economy in the world. "We will shortly be the third largest economy in the world, more than anything else, India has carried out very major structural reforms in its economy," Kant said. Kant suggested that the government should give a massive thrust to travel and tourism, because it is tariff proof. "We should be getting tourists from abroad, because... there is no tariff," he pointed out. Noting that India is bigger than 24 countries of Europe, Kant said every state of India must have its brand and every state must push for tourism. Kant emphasised that India needs just 12 champion states growing at 10 per cent to lift national growth to 9 per cent. "You already have growth coming from the south and west. Now the opportunity lies in the east... These are mineral-rich states. There's no reason they should not be growing at 9-10 per cent per annum," he said.
Hans India
19 minutes ago
- Hans India
Diplomatic discussions held on rescue of 17 Nepali citizens affected by Uttarakhand floods: Oli
Kathmandu: Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli said on Friday that 17 Nepali citizens have been impacted by the recent floods in Uttarakhand, saying that Kathmandu is engaged in diplomatic discussions with New Delhi on the efforts that are being made for the rescue of the missing people. Oli offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in Uttarakhand where relief operations are proceeding at full pace after torrential rains caused massive destruction. In a social media post on Friday, Oli stated, "I am deeply concerned by the tragic news of the huge loss of life and property due to floods in Uttarakhand in our neighbouring and friendly country India. It has been reported that more than 17 Nepali citizens have also been affected by the floods. Immediate diplomatic discussions were held through the Embassy for their rescue. I pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the floods and landslides and wish the grieving families the strength to endure." Nepal's Minister of Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba also said on Friday that she has directed Nepal's Embassy in New Delhi to coordinate with the Indian government and act promptly in the search and rescue of the missing Nepali nationals. "The news of some Nepali citizens going missing in the recent floods in Uttarakhand in neighbouring India has caused great sorrow. The Nepal government has already initiated diplomatic efforts for their search and rescue. I have instructed the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi to coordinate with the Indian government and act promptly in the search and rescue of the missing Nepali citizens. I offer my heartfelt tributes to all those who lost their lives in this flood and landslide, and I express my sincere condolences to the families in this time of grief," Deuba posted on X. District officials in Dhading said four residents of ward 2 of Jwalamukhi Municipality have remained out of contact since travelling for work to Dharali area of Uttarkashi, Nepal's leading daily, The Kathmandu Post reported. Chief District Officer Suman Ghimire said they were believed to be near Dharali when the disaster occurred. According to Ghimire, Nepal's Home Ministry had sought assistance from the country's Embassy in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Karnali Province Police said 15 residents of Jajarkot and Jumla have been out of contact following the incident. The missing include five men from ward 2 of Kushe Rural Municipality in Jajarkot, 10 from ward 2 of Junichande Rural Municipality in Jumla. Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya urged the federal government to make the search and rescue operation for four Nepali citizens from Bardiya, reportedly missing following the floods in Uttarakhand, more effective. He called on Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accelerate the operation through diplomatic channels. As many as 274 individuals stranded in disaster-hit areas of Uttarkashi have been rescued and brought to Harsil on Thursday, bringing the total number of rescued people to 409, officials involved in the ongoing relief and rescue efforts confirmed on Thursday. Apart from these, 135 people have already been evacuated to safer destinations, as operations intensify in the aftermath of the devastating flash floods triggered by cloudbursts. In total, 409 people have been rescued so far. People are being airlifted to safer elevations, while those injured are receiving prompt medical attention. According to the Disaster Management Authority, all 274 people rescued and brought to Harsil from Gangotri and surrounding areas are safe. The rescued include pilgrims from across India -- 131 from Gujarat, 123 from Maharashtra, 21 from Madhya Pradesh, 12 from Uttar Pradesh, six from Rajasthan, seven from Delhi, five each from Assam and Karnataka, three from Telangana, and one from Punjab.
