Lt Commander Yashasvi Solanki Becomes First Woman Naval ADC to President
Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki has become the first woman officer from the Indian Navy to be appointed as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India. Selected after a rigorous 15-day evaluation at Rashtrapati Bhavan, her appointment marks a key milestone in the evolving role of women in the Indian armed forces.
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The Print
19 minutes ago
- The Print
We are exploring pathways to reset ties: MEA on India-Canada relations
'Our prime minister had received a call from the Canadian prime minister last week. During the call, Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) to attend the G7 (meeting), and as you are aware, the invitation has been accepted,' he said. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in response to a query during his weekly media briefing. New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) Describing India and Canada as 'vibrant democracies', the external affairs ministry on Thursday said New Delhi believes the forthcoming meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries on the sidelines of the G7 Summit will offer an important opportunity to exchange views and 'explore pathways' to reset bilateral ties. The call was also an occasion for the two prime ministers to reflect or talk about India-Canada relations and how they can be taken forward, the MEA spokesperson said. Canada will be hosting the crucial G7 meeting later this month. The Group of Seven (G7) consists of seven of the world's advanced economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US, and the UK, as well as the European Union. Carney, an economist and political newcomer, took charge as Canada's new prime minister in March following the exit of Justin Trudeau from the top office. 'India and Canada are vibrant democracies, which are bound by shared democratic values and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law. And, of course, very vibrant people-to-people ties,' Jaiswal said. 'We believe that the forthcoming meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in Canada will offer an important opportunity for them to exchange views on bilateral and global issues, and explore pathways to set or reset the relationship, based on mutual respect, shared interests and sensitivity to each other's concerns,' he said. Later in response to another query on the future trajectory of India-Canada ties, Jaiswal said, 'We are exploring pathways to reset ties. And, we will see, as to how we take things forward.' Modi got a call from the Canadian prime minister earlier this month. During the conversation, Modi had congratulated Carney on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit. 'The two leaders acknowledged the deep people-to-people ties between India and Canada and reaffirmed their commitment to work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests,' the MEA had said in a readout after the call. The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September 2023 of the 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as 'absurd'. The relations nosedived further in the second half of last year after Ottawa linked several Indian diplomats, including then High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, to the murder of Nijjar. In October last year, India withdrew Verma and five other diplomats. India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats from New Delhi. In the last few months, the security officials of India and Canada resumed contacts, and both sides are looking at the possibility of appointing new high commissioners. The exit of Trudeau is being seen as an opportunity to improve the bilateral ties. Jaiswal, during the briefing, was also asked if law enforcement and transnational gangs operating in Canada would be raised during the meeting of the two leaders. 'There are existing mechanisms between Indian and Canadian law enforcement agencies that have discussed issues of mutual security concerns over a period of time. This engagement is likely to continue,' he said. Asked if the issue of anti-India activities will come up in the discussion, he said, Anti-India activities, whether it is in Canada or anywhere else, 'we have made it very clear, and we expect our international partners to take into account our concerns and act accordingly'. The MEA spokesperson asserted that the 'reset' of the relationship is based on mutual respect, shared interests and sensitivity to each other's concerns. He underlined that India and Canada have expansive economic engagement, technology cooperation, and company investing on both sides, besides a big Indian student community in that country, so there is 'a lot that can be discussed for both countries to gain from each other's engagements'. PTI KND RHL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Print
34 minutes ago
- The Print
Modi-Carney to reset ties at G7 in Canada, MEA says all issues of ‘mutual concern' to be raised
Canada will likely seek further cooperation between law-enforcement agencies, with particular reference to the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. The previous Canadian administration led by Justin Trudeau had alleged the Indian government was linked to the killing, a claim New Delhi strongly refuted. All issues of 'mutual concern' will be raised during the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The issues, among others, include India's concerns about the space given by Ottawa to Sikh separatists and transnational organised crime gangs. New Delhi: Ties between India and Canada, which have plummeted over the past year-and-a-half, are set for a reboot as Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the G7 Summit in Alberta next week, and holds a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Mark Carney on the margins of the summit. On June 6, Carney called PM Modi and invited him to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Modi will be in Canada 16 and 17 June. 'Both leaders also had an opportunity to reflect on the India-Canada relationship and the way forward. India and Canada are vibrant democracies bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told the weekly press briefing Thursday. Jaiswal added, 'We believe that the forthcoming meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit will offer an important opportunity to exchange views on bilateral and global issues, and to explore pathways to reset the relationship based on mutual respect, shared interests, and sensitivity to each other's concerns. Our views on some of these issues have already been shared publicly in considerable detail.' The potential thaw comes after months of frayed relations. The ties between the two countries hit rock bottom under the Trudeau administration in 2023, when he accused the Indian government of being linked to the killing of Nijjar. Nijjar, an Indian-designated terrorist, was gunned down outside a Gurudwara 18 June 2023. India has denied any links to his killing and is yet to receive any evidence from Ottawa supporting their charge. Last October, New Delhi expelled the acting high commissioner of Canada and five other diplomats from the country, while withdrawing its own high commissioner and five other diplomats from Canada. Under Carney, Ottawa has signalled its intent to carve out the issue of Nijjar's killing from the overall ties. Carney announced last week that India and Canada will resume cooperation between law-enforcement agencies. On Carney's statement, Jaiswal said, 'There are existing mechanisms between Indian and Canadian law-enforcement agencies that have discussed issues of mutual security concern over a period of time. This engagement is likely to continue.' Modi's meeting with Carney is set to take place roughly a day or two before the anniversary of Nijjar's killing. The acceptance of the invitation by Modi to attend the G7 summit is a serious declaration of intent from New Delhi to reset ties. For Canada, India has gained importance since the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. Trump has attacked Canada for its trade surplus with the US and has gone as far as labelling the country the 51st state of the United States of America. Earlier this week, Carney announced that Canada will be investing close to $9 billion more in defence spending, with a view to diversify its security partnership away from the US. This leaves Canada with the European Union and India as other democratic options to increase its engagement with. The Canadian prime minister has some political breathing room to act in a positive fashion with India, following the success of the Liberal Party in the recently concluded federal election. The meeting between the two leaders may set the stage for the reappointment of high commissioners between the two countries and normalising diplomatic ties. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Fresh trouble hits India-Canada ties, New Delhi protests threatening language at Khalsa Day parade
The Wire
an hour ago
- The Wire
India Says Reset with Canada on Agenda, Carney Says Nijjar Probe Raised with Modi
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Top Stories India Says Reset with Canada on Agenda, Carney Says Nijjar Probe Raised with Modi The Wire Staff 39 minutes ago Meanwhile, Carney is still facing questions about his invitation to Modi to attend the G7 summit. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressing the press. Photo: Screenshot from MEA livestream. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now New Delhi: Ahead of the G7 summit, India said on Thursday (June 12) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, would discuss a reset in ties grounded in mutual 'sensitivity', even as Carney confirmed raising with Modi the ongoing probes into alleged Indian involvement in criminal plots on Canadian soil. Last week, Carney spoke with Modi and extended an invitation for the forthcoming G7 summit in Kananaskis in western Canada. Modi accepted the invitation, which came just over a week before the summit begins on June 15. It was a dramatic turnaround in relations that had been frozen for 20 months since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indians agents were involved in killing Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police accused Indian agents of targeting Canadian nationals. During the weekly briefing on Thursday, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the forthcoming bilateral meeting between Modi and Carney would 'explore pathways to reset the relationship based on mutual respect, shared interests and sensitivity to each other's concerns'. He added that India's views 'on some of these issues have already been shared publicly in considerable detail'. In contrast to Modi's announcement that only spoke about working together with 'renewed vigour', Carney had to immediately defend his invitation before the media. 'We have now agreed, importantly, to continued law enforcement dialogue. So there's been some progress on that, which recognises issues of accountability. I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context, and he has accepted,' he said last Friday in Ottawa. When asked about Carney's mention of a dialogue between security agencies, the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson stated, 'There are existing mechanisms between Indian and Canadian law enforcement agencies that have discussed issues of mutual security concern over a period of time. This engagement is likely to continue.' India had previously claimed on several occasions that Canada had 'created an environment for illegal migration and organised criminal activities'. When asked whether India would raise this again, Jaiswal first listed points of commonality with Canada. 'I also [said] that we are two democracies. We are bound by the rule of law. We have an expansive economic engagement. We have large people-to-people connections. We have a big student community there. We have companies invested in both sides. We have technology collaboration, so there's a lot more, lots that can be discussed and for both countries to gain from each other's engagement,' said Jaiswal. Then, he said that on 'anti-India activities, whether it is Canada or anywhere else', India 'expect[s] our international partners to take into account our concerns and act accordingly'. Meanwhile, Carney is still facing questions about the invitation. In an interview to Radio Canada, he was asked whether he spoke to the Indian PM about the ongoing police probes, including the Nijjar case. 'Yes, I have,' he said, as reported by CBC News. The Canadian leader added that the legal case will continue and 'India knows that'. He added that Canada had made progress with India bilaterally and that 'they are OK with having a legal process between law enforcement entities'. Carney reiterated that Canada wants to discuss energy security, critical minerals and artificial intelligence with world leaders, and it's 'hard to have those discussions without India'. Ruling Liberal party lawmaker Sukh Dhaliwal, who represents the constituency where Nijjar was killed, had been critical of the invitation. As per Canadian media, he had a meeting with Carney on Wednesday to express his constituents' concerns. Dhaliwal said Carney is 'very strong' and would represent concerns about Indian interference and transnational crime when speaking to Modi. 'I'm saying it's not a good idea, but now he's invited. We have to move forward,' he said. Canada has listed countering ' foreign interference and transnational crime ' as a key priority for the upcoming G7 summit. Besides India, the other non-G7 invitees to the summit are the leaders of Ukraine, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Ahead of G7 Summit, Canada Lists 'Foreign Interference and Transnational Crime' as Key Priority Marking Turnaround in Ties, Modi Accepts Late Canadian Invitation to Attend G7 Summit Next Week Canada Placed Law Enforcement Conditions Before Modi for G7 Summit Invite: Report Nijjar & After: Facing Flak, Canadian PM says Progress in 'Accountability' Paved Way for Modi G7 Invite As the G7 Clock Ticks, Silence over India's Invite and What it Means India's Disastrous Isolation Around the World As India and Canada's Foreign Ministers Speak Over Phone, Signs of a Further Thaw in Ties Has Trump 2.0 Deprioritised India? The Evidence is Clear. Whose Growth Is it, Anyway? Understanding India's Infrastructure Push View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
