India achieved unthinkable in telecom, says TDP leader Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in Brazil
Brasilia [Brazil], June 3 (ANI): The BRICS Communication Ministers' meeting was hailed as 'quite successful' by TDP leader and Union Minister of State for Communication, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, who highlighted India's remarkable achievements in telecom infrastructure compared to other member countries.
Speaking about the event, he said, 'I have listened to ten other countries about how they have been doing with their telecom infrastructure. I am proud to say India has achieved something unthinkable. We have connected more than 95 per cent of India. We have high-quality fibre to almost every village. We have more than 80 per cent with 5G connections. We have explained to the world all the best practices we have done, all the satellite-based reforms we have done, and the preventive actions we have taken for the telecom fraud. So all in all, it's quite successful and we are one of the countries that have done much more than many other countries...'
Sekhar's remarks underscored India's significant progress in telecom infrastructure showcased during the meeting held in Brasilia.
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has left for Brazil to participate in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, also scheduled in Brasilia, reflecting India's active engagement in BRICS multilateral platforms across sectors including communication and parliamentary diplomacy.
Birla will represent India at the forum from June 3 to June 5. The event will focus on discussions around the role of BRICS parliaments in global governance.
During the forum, Birla is set to address key topics, including Responsible and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence (AI), among other significant issues. He will also engage in bilateral talks with presiding officers from BRICS countries.
In the current geopolitical context, Speaker Birla's visit holds strategic importance for India.
The Indian delegation accompanying Birla includes the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Members of Parliament, and other officials. The delegation will also comprise Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; Surendra Singh Nagar, Member of Parliament; Vijay Baghel, Member of Parliament; Vivek Thakur, Member of Parliament; Shabari Byreddy, Member of Parliament; Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary General, Lok Sabha; and P.C. Mody, Secretary General, Rajya Sabha.
According to a press release, the overall theme of the Eleventh BRICS Parliamentary Forum is 'The Role of BRICS Parliaments in Building a More Inclusive and Sustainable Global Governance.'
The Lok Sabha Speaker will address the forums on 'Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation for Responsible and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence' and 'BRICS Parliaments United for the Reform of the Multilateral Peace and Security Architecture.'
The delegation will also participate in the proceedings during the Plenary Sessions on sub-themes including 'BRICS Parliamentary Action in Search of New Paths for Economic Development'; 'Towards Stronger and More Durable BRICS Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation'; 'BRICS Inter-Parliamentary Alliance for Global Health'; and 'BRICS Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue on Climate and Sustainability.'
A Joint Statement will be adopted at the end of the Summit. The Speaker, Lok Sabha, may also hold bilateral meetings with Presiding Officers of participating Parliaments on the sidelines of this Forum. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
31 minutes ago
- India Today
He does this to his dad, Shashi Tharoor quips after son's curveball on Op Sindoor
In a rare and heartwarming moment during India's diplomatic outreach in Washington DC following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor found himself fielding a question from his son, Ishaan senior Tharoor, who is part of an all-party delegation visiting key global capitals to highlight the Pahalgam carnage and India's response to it, was pleasantly surprised when Ishaan - introducing himself jokingly as asking "in a personal capacity and mostly to say hi before you go off for your next engagement" - posed a pointed query about terrorism advertisementAs Ishaan took the mic, Shashi Tharoor smiled and gestured for him to raise it properly before he responded. The question, both timely and probing, was whether any country had asked the Indian delegation for evidence of Pakistan's involvement in the Pahalgam attack, given Pakistan's repeated denials. "I'm very glad you raised this. I didn't plant it, I promise you. This guy does this to his dad," Tharoor said candidly. He stated that "no one had any doubt," and that the delegation was not asked for evidence by any foreign government. However, he acknowledged that the media in "two or three places" did raise the question."Let me say very clearly that India would not have done this without convincing evidence," he said. Citing three reasons for international understanding, Tharoor highlighted the 37-year pattern of terror attacks originating from Pakistan, each followed by habitual reminded the audience of Pakistan's disavowal of knowledge of Osama bin Laden's whereabouts, even when he was eventually found in a compound adjacent to an army camp in Abbottabad. He also mentioned Pakistan's denial of involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks."So we know what Pakistan's all about. They will dispatch terrorists, they will deny they did so until they're actually caught with red hands," he also dismissed the idea of American mediation between India and Pakistan. The US has, on several occasions, taken credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, with President Donald Trump claiming that he strongarmed the two nuclear nations with the threat of trade and tariffs. India, however, has denied the claim on several occasions. "Mediation is not a term that we are particularly willing to entertain. You're implying an equivalence which simply doesn't exist," he said. He added, "There is no equivalence between terrorists and their victims. There is no equivalence between a country that provides a safe haven to terrorism and a country that's a flourishing multi-party democracy that's trying to get on with its business."Addressing US diplomatic engagement following the attacks, Tharoor said the PM Modi-led government had received calls at high levels from the US, and that India appreciated the concern and interest. However, he said, "They must have been making similar calls at the highest levels to the Pakistan side. Because that's the side that needed persuading to stop this process... But that's guesswork on my part."advertisementReiterating the nature of India's actions in Operation Sindoor, Tharoor drew a sharp contrast between the two nations' conduct. "India hit terror bases in Pakistan, while Pakistan hit civilians in retaliation, since there are no terror bases in India," he asserted. "There are no terrorist organisations in India listed in the UN or the State Department anywhere else. So, what do you hit? You hit civilians, innocent people. That is the asymmetry of this particular conflict."Tharoor said India's response was "precise and calibrated", and stressed that India has "systematically signalled" it is not interested in war with Pakistan. "We're not interested in attacking Pakistani civilians, ordinary people. This is about India versus terrorism," he the question of Chinese military technology and Pakistan's alleged use of it, Tharoor said India responded innovatively and effectively during the conflict. The Thiruvananthapuram MP spoke about China's interest in Pakistan, but added that despite Islamabad's use of Beijing's technology, India was able to manoeuvre its military plans to give a befitting reply to supposed to be something called a kill chain that the Chinese specialise in. We simply did things in a different way. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to hit 11 airfields," he explained. He acknowledged the depth of China's investment in Pakistan through the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and said India had "no illusions" about China's strategic stake in on the broader context, Tharoor described the war as "a distraction" for India, but "fundamental" to the Pakistani military's sense of self-importance."There was a lot of chuckling in Delhi," Tharoor remarked wryly, "when the failed general became a field marshal by promoting himself, as you said, with an extra star".Tune InTrending Reel
India Today
31 minutes ago
- India Today
Amit Shah's Kolkata huddle with Bengal BJP top brass sets tone for 2026 poll push
Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent visit to Kolkata included a closely guarded meeting with senior BJP leaders, signalling a renewed push to wrest control of West Bengal in the 2026 assembly elections. According to sources, Shah held a closed-door session with Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and BJP state president Sukanta meeting, lasting over two hours, was centred around fine-tuning the party's roadmap for the high-stakes 294-seat assembly battle, with 148 seats required for a simple majority, sources the meeting, Adhikari submitted a comprehensive report on the BJP's organisational standing across Bengal. Discussions revolved around vote share calculations and electoral arithmetic, with Adhikari reportedly informing Shah that the BJP trails the ruling Trinamool Congress by around 4-5 percent in over 150 seats, based on trends observed between the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha polls. With the BJP holding a steady 40 percent voter share statewide, Adhikari argued that a swing of just 3-4 percent could enable the party to outpace the TMC in these key constituencies and form the next government.A significant portion of the strategy focusses on strengthening booth-level organisation. West Bengal has close to 80,000 polling booths, of which 14,000 are Muslim-majority areas where the BJP does not currently plan to set up booth the party is concentrating efforts on building robust teams in approximately 57,000 other booths, despite concerns over what leaders describe as an "atmosphere of terror" in several regions, sources said. BJP leaders Bansal and Pandera have reportedly been assigned the task of enhancing their grassroots presence as part of this focused organisational from the political strategy session, Shah also addressed a gathering of around 150 saints at Swami Vivekananda's house, where he outlined a broader ideological framework for the BJP's Bengal he avoided naming specific nations, Shah reportedly spoke of the need for a distinctly Indian "national mindset," in contrast to neighbouring countries - a comment widely interpreted as a reference to Bangladesh. He emphasised that the party's Bengal strategy is not just political but also linked to national security behind-the-scenes meetings and the ideological outreach are seen by insiders as key components of the BJP's evolving campaign architecture aimed at consolidating its base and expanding its appeal across a politically charged Watch
Indian Express
44 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Rapid uptake of crypto in developing economies raises concerns, says IMF's Gita Gopinath: Here's why
The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) first deputy managing director Gita Gopinath on Thursday flagged concerns about the rise of crypto uptake in developing economies saying that though nascent, it poses a risk in terms of currency substitution. In an interview with the Financial Times, Gopinath said 'we are seeing some pretty rapid growth of uptake of crypto in some emerging markets.' Emerging markets faced risks from crypto uptake, especially stablecoins, in terms of 'disintermediation of their financial institutions,' she said. 'In terms of currency substitution, those risks are rising,' Gopinath added. Gopinath's comments came against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's push for a strategic crypto reserve and backing to the issuance of stablecoins to make America the 'crypto capital of the world'. In the Indian subcontinent, Pakistan has recently struck a deal with US-based World Liberty Financial Inc (WLFI) a firm backed by the Trump family, for that country to emerge as a crypto hub while promoting the use of blockchain technology and the use of stablecoins for payments and remittances. Amid a spate of activity in the crypto space, experts echo Gopinath's warning that cryptocurrencies may pose a risk to the currencies and financial institutions of developing and emerging economies. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies whose value is pegged to an asset such as a currency or commodity such as gold. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have rallied since Donald Trump took over as US President owing to the reversal of his earlier skeptical stance on digital coins. He appointed David Sacks as the White House crypto czar while also naming crypto backer Paul S Atkins as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair. Flagship cryptocurrency Bitcoin's price stood at $104,512.82 apiece, down 0.07 per cent, at 7:30 pm on Thursday. Last month, Bitcoin breached the $110,00 mark for the first time after the passage of the GENIUS Act Bill in the US Senate owing to bipartisan support. If passed the GENIUS Act is also expected to allow crypto companies to produce more stablecoins. Issuers must be in compliance with anti-money laundering provisions and anti-terrorism regulations, according to the Bill's fine print. Further, stablecoins issuers must back the digital currency with fiat currency or highly liquid assets in a 1:1 ratio. They must also maintain separate reserves to backstop the stablecoins, according to the GENIUS Act Bill. Democratic Senator Mark R Wright, who backed the bill, stated that while there were concerns about the Trump family's involvement in cryptocurrencies to 'evade oversight, hide shady financial dealings, and personally profit at the expense of everyday Americans… blockchain technology is here to stay.' He said it was in America's interest to take the lead on shaping crypto policies. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren warned that the GENIUS Act Bill did not meet the minimum standards such as guaranteeing consumer protection and preventing the illicit use of stablecoins. Passage of the GENIUS Act may pose a risk since the illicit use of stablecoins already make up 60 per cent of unlawful crypto transactions. If passed, the GENIUS Act is expected to boost the stablecoin market's growth by 10X to $2 trillion, Warren said citing industry estimates. Developing countries and their dalliance with cryptocurrencies Pakistan recently announced a collaboration between the Pakistan Crypto Council and the WLFI, which envisages the use of blockchain technology to promote financial inclusion. It also aims to monetise national assets such as rare earths besides using stablecoins in trade and remittance. Pakistan eyes the status of a regional crypto hub as a result of this agreement. Experts warn of the inherent instability of the crypto asset system. To elaborate on Gopinath's warning, a paper titled 'Crypto assets as a threat to financial market stability' states that currencies of emerging and developing economies may lose their importance as store of value owing to higher inflation rates, leading to a rising degree of substitution of the domestic currency by a foreign currency. According to an UNCTAD study, this may result in the 'cryptoisation' of emerging and developing economy currencies relative to their GDP and backed by factors such as a younger population as well as macroeconomic stability. In Central America, El Salvador, which approved Bitcoin as official tender in 2021, the cryptocurrency has seldom found use as a means for buying goods and services. Stablecoins may also pose a risk similar to that seen during a bank run — when depositors and investors rush to cash their assets after a bank is unable to honour its financial commitments owing to a shortage of assets. According to the paper cited above, the linkage of stablecoins to a currency creates arbitrage opportunities leading to speculation. Former US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during a US Congressional hearing said fears of inadequate asset backing for stablecoins may also lead to a sell off triggering a situation similar to a bank run. In March this year, Trump announced the creation of a strategic crypto reserve — a basket comprising Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and Cardano. While flagging 'corrupt attacks (on cryptocurrencies) by the Biden administration' Trump in a Truth Social post said the US Crypto Reserve, part of his executive order on digital assets will 'elevate this critical industry'. 'I will make sure the US is the Crypto Capital of the World,' Trump said. Under Trump, the US has dropped probes and legal lawsuits related to alleged securities violations against cryptocurrency firms and exchanges. The US government holds an estimated 200,000 Bitcoin pending an audit, according to a fact sheet shared by the White House. To be sure, the US crypto reserve will only store digital tokens obtained through forfeiture proceedings — it will not purchase additional reserves at the cost of the American taxpayer's money, according to the White House fact sheet.
