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India, UK ink landmark free trade agreement concluding years of negotiations, PM Modi announces
'These landmark agreements will further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies,' PM Modi said read more
India and the United Kingdom finalised a landmark bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday (May 6).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the completion of the deal in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The deal, which PM Modi described as 'ambitious and mutually beneficial,' also includes a Double Taxation Avoidance Convention. It is expected to catalyse trade, investment, job creation, and innovation across both economies.
'These landmark agreements will further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies.'
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The agreement comes after years of negotiations and is seen as a major win for both governments.
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Hans India
21 minutes ago
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 8th June 2025
From Chenab Bridge to Delhi: Kashmir now in the mainstream When the first whistle of a train echoed through the winds of Kashmir, it was not merely a sound but a proclamation of a new India—a moment when the tracks of the railway embraced the paradise nestled in the valley. The Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge, towering over even the Eiffel Tower, is not just an engineering marvel but a symbol of India's self-reliance and resolve. By flagging off the first train service from Katra to Srinagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi scripted history—not just the departure of a train but a divine moment that ignited the flame of development. The Modi government's vision and relentless effort have turned this impossible dream into reality, not only connecting Kashmir but also showcasing India's strength to the world. This victory resonates from the peaks of the Himalayas to the valleys of Kashmir, immortalized by the Modi government's adept leadership. For decades, Kashmir grappled with geographical barriers, but now the rail network has embraced it. The once risky, exhausting, and unsafe road journey has been transformed into a swift, modern ride on trains like Vande Bharat, covering the distance in under 10 hours. The journey from Katra to Srinagar via Banihal will not only save time and effort but also usher in a new dawn for tourists and locals alike. IRCTC's world-class facilities—convenient ticket booking, modern coaches, and delicious catering—will make this journey a memorable experience. In the Prime Minister's words, this bridge is not just a structure of steel but a bridge of hearts, erasing the shadows of terror and spreading rays of peace and prosperity. Following the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Modi government's resolute and courageous response sent a clear message: Pakistan's attempts to spread fear will fail, and India no longer merely endures—it forges the path to victory. This rail network is set to become the foundation of an economic revolution. Kashmir's red apples, handicrafts, and traditional products will now reach major markets across the country at lower costs and in less time, bringing prosperity to local traders and opening new employment opportunities for the youth. This transformation will elevate Kashmir's economy to new heights, bringing prosperity to every household. For tourism, this connectivity marks the beginning of a golden era. People from every corner of India can now step directly into Kashmir's enchanting valleys by train—where the chinar trees blooming in the lap of the Himalayas, the serenity of Dal Lake, and the beauty of Shalimar Bagh will be visible from the train's window. Travelers who once hesitated due to arduous journeys will now find wings for their dreams, and Kashmir will emerge as a global tourism hub—all made possible by the Modi government's steadfast resolve and technological advancements. This railway is not just a network of tracks but an unparalleled saga of unity, trust, and progress. Kashmir, once seemingly disconnected from the mainstream, is now becoming its beating heart. The sound of the tracks, the whistle of the train, and the winds of the valley carry the call of this new creation, propelling India toward the role of a global leader. This project will not only enrich Kashmir but also strengthen the nation's unity and integrity. The Modi government's monumental achievement has given Kashmir a new identity—one that pierces the darkness of terror to spread the light of development. As the train races through Kashmir's valleys, it will not merely be a train but a symbol of every dream that seeks to reach from the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to every village in the valley. This is a journey that touches hearts, brings tears of hope to eyes, and fills India's soul with pride. The Modi government's extraordinary triumph has shown Kashmir the path to prosperity, and this railway will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come—an inspiration that will echo as long as the Himalayas stand and Kashmir's valleys remain lush and green. This is the song of India's victory, one that will reside in every heart and inspire every soul. Prof RK Jain 'Arijeet',Barwani (MP) India's global influence waning India's diplomatic isolation represents a failure of its foreign policy. The all-party delegations that visited various foreign countries received only a lukewarm reception. They could not even get an audience with the most influential figures from those countries in the international arena. There is nothing substantial that India has gained from the diplomatic outreach. Even brilliant parliamentarians like Shashi Tharoor and Salman Khurshid could not make any difference. The international community's disinclination to delink the India-Kashmir conflict from the Kashmir issue seems to be the major problem that even its rigorous diplomacy finds hard to surmount. No matter what the BJP and the Modi government say for domestic consumption, even the all-weather friend Russia has seconded US President Donald Trump's claim of mediation for an end to military operations. At the same time, Pakistan seems to have succeeded in winning over the international community and multilateral financial agencies. It has managed to become the vice-chair of a UN panel on terrorism and avail loans from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. By fulfilling the legitimate political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and devolving more power to them, India can hope to demonstrate that Jammu and Kashmir is its integral part and change the global perception of it and win international support. G David Milton, Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu Suffocated academics The United States government's plans to cut economic support to universities is quite disheartening. American Universities have been a lighthouse for the world and this nation has also attracted talent from everywhere. Renowned Nobel Laureates have been given in every field. The politicians of the world must abstain from playing with the educational institutions and universities in their bid to destroy the academics and scholastic pursuits thoughtlessly. Instead of curtailing economic support by the US government, it should find ways to correlate with the alumni of these universities as well as other universities and governments for collaborative strengthening of educational pursuits. It must be understood by all the nations' politicians that disturbed teachers and students due to lack of funding support in research will do no good either to the polity or economy of the country they govern. Suffocation due to lack of opportunities for flow of innovative ideas will be fatal for the growth of our civilization and for lasting peace. Brij B Goyal, Ludhiana (Punjab) Leave language politics alone The formation of Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag (Indian languages section) within the Department of Official Languages by the Union government is a step towards appeasing the non-Hindi speaking states to use their mother tongue in official languages. The government thinks that this will soften their stand against the charge of Hindi bias. There is no special interest in developing the local languages by the central government. English helps the southern states to communicate easily and effectively with the centre. Moreover, translating everything in local languages is not possible. There are many pressing issues to be taken up by the government. Why is the government taking up the language issue time and again? Let the government continue to deal in English and Hindi as has been the practice. S Sankaranarayanan, Chennai Does Modi believe in 'I' over 'We'? The construction of the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab river makes every Indian swell with pride. It was a massive engineering feat, requiring the expertise of over 1,300 engineers, technicians, and workers. Civil engineers, mechanical engineers, structural engineers, welders and technicians, and all manner of other professionals were needed to complete this engineering marvel. Yet, Modi's image walking all alone by himself with India's national flag had "I" rather than "We" written all over it. Only an Everester can claim such bragging rights, as the achievement is singularly his. In the case of the Chenab bridge, it is just a happy coincidence that this engineering marvel has been completed under Modi's watch. Modi ought to have humbly dedicated the bridge to the nation, rather than conveying the unspoken message that it was "I" ( rather than "We" ) who did it. Avinash Godboley, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh Is cricket now a fatal attraction for its fans? The event is only IPL, a money making venture. The team has not won any international trophy. It is the madness that cricket is injecting into the younger minds. Result these types of tragedies. Gainers the individual players, IPL and cricket boards. It is high time this frenzy is curtailed and divert the youth to take up alternate sport events. As a country, we are yet to make an impact in the Olympics. IPL is just a fun game. The loss of 11 lives is precious and whoever is responsible should be severely punished as per the law and there is no escape route. The first accused are all Karnataka television news channels. They are the ones who truly promoted this RCB team. They emotionally hyped up these auctioned players as if they were nation-builders, societal architects, or those who achieved something remarkable after 18 years. They discussed a 3-hour game for 30 hours, indulging in perverse sensationalism. Hence, they are the first accused. The second accused are the RCB franchise, RCB fans' club, and KSCA. Despite having a stadium with a capacity of 35,000 seats, they allowed a flood of lakhs of frenzied fans without any preparation, despite past experiences. There was no need to bring players on a special flight and organize an event the very next day after the final. Had they planned carefully, issued passes to those who needed them, and obtained police permission, this accident could have been prevented. They sacrificed people for their spectacle. The third accused is the Karnataka government, particularly Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shri D.K. Shivakumar. They should not have displayed the immorality of honouring individuals who won in such gambling at the temple of democracy, Vidhana Soudha. For a Chief Minister with a socialist background like Siddaramaiah, the words of Ram Manohar Lohia about cricket should have come to mind. What was the need to honour them in front of Vidhana Soudha? The fourth accused are the Bengaluru Police Commissioner and the heads of the intelligence and surveillance departments. Regardless of the pressure from KSCA, the government, or cricket fans, they should have rejected the proposal to organize such an event so soon in an emotionally charged situation with a large crowd. They should not have granted permission or should have dispersed the crowd with a lathi charge. Their failure in this regard is evident. People rely on the police for their safety, and the police are the only ones who can control such frenzy; no one else can. The fifth accused are helpless social activists like us with feeble voices. We have failed to bring enlightenment to society's mindset. When cricket, a wonderful sport, was turned into gambling, we failed to raise awareness against it. We are unable to stop the youth from indulging in such madness because we, too, are helpless. Therefore, we are also the fifth accused. In IPL, the game of cricket is not a winner and the madness comes in the open. C.K. Suresh, Ghaziabad Locked out, beaten down: Human rights violated at KSCA Stadium Thousands of RCB fans injured and traumatised after stadium gates were shut and police resorted to lathi charge despite sparse crowd inside. What began as a day of enthusiasm and hope for thousands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans turned into a harrowing example of institutional mismanagement, negligence, and a disturbing case of human rights violations at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Stadium. On Wednesday, June 4, throngs of cricket fans—many of them students and young adults—arrived at the stadium, eager to witness their beloved RCB team in flesh and blood. But instead of cheers and cricket, they were met with locked gates, baton-wielding police, and chaos that left at least 40 persons injured, many with lacerations, bruises, and trauma. This was not a stampede born of unruliness. It was the outcome of preventable administrative failure and state-enabled violence—both of which demand scrutiny under the lens of human rights law. At the core of the fiasco lies a critical breach of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. This fundamental right, interpreted over the decades to include the right to safety and dignity, was blatantly disregarded by KSCA authorities and law enforcement officials. Senior human rights activists and advocates point out that this was a case of grave violation of personal liberty and Human rights put together. State based human rights association are now examining at the high court level to go in for a case for human rights violations against the KSCA. Despite widespread ticketing and crowd anticipation, KSCA inexplicably shut the stadium gates, leaving thousands stranded in tightly packed, suffocating conditions. Eyewitnesses confirmed that less than a quarter of the stadium was filled at the time, raising serious questions about intent, transparency, and competence. The predictable outcome was a human crush. When the gates were eventually opened—far too late and without any control mechanisms—the desperate crowd surged forward. Instead of orderly entry, fans were met with gates slammed shut in their faces, resulting in dozens of injuries. These actions are not merely logistical lapses; they represent culpable negligence. Any reasonable authority could have anticipated the danger of locking large crowds outside an underfilled venue. In failing to take even minimal precautions, the KSCA and its partners compromised the safety of citizens—a violation that must be investigated under relevant public safety and human rights frameworks. As if the chaos outside the stadium gates were not traumatic enough, the police response escalated the situation into an outright assault on civil liberties. With fans pushed against barricades, police resorted to a lathi charge to control the crowd. But video and first-hand accounts indicate that the violence was indiscriminate, directed even at those trying to de-escalate or retreat. This use of force—especially on unarmed, peaceful fans including minors—is in direct violation of international human rights standards, including the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which state that force must be used only when strictly necessary and in proportion to the threat posed. In this case, the threat was manufactured by institutional mismanagement. The police were not responding to violence—they were reacting to a crowd denied access and dignity. Their role should have been to protect citizens, not to punish them for institutional failures. These are not rhetorical questions. They demand formal investigation and public accountability, not just from the KSCA but also from local police leadership and civic authorities responsible for event coordination. It is alarming that, as of now, no one has stepped forward to accept responsibility, nor have any apologies been issued to the injured fans or their families. The treatment meted out to the fans also infringes on Article 19(1)(b) of the Indian Constitution—the right to assemble peacefully. By criminalising a civilian gathering and reacting with force rather than facilitation, both the KSCA and the police turned a peaceful sporting event into a site of state-enabled trauma. This incident is not merely a matter of mismanagement—it is a case study in how public institutions can turn everyday civil gatherings into rights violations. Sporting events are supposed to unite communities. What happened outside KSCA on June 4 will be remembered as a moment when cricket fans were treated as liabilities, not citizens. The injuries, physical and emotional, will take time to heal. But unless institutional accountability, apologies, and corrective actions follow, the damage will only deepen. -M Raghuram, Mangaluru A litmus test of popular mood Apropos, "The real battle for Bihar has begun," THI, Jun 7. Though still five months away, the Bihar Assembly elections have already ignited intense political fervour. The high-stakes battle looms larger than ever, as the polls mark the first major democratic exercise following the spectacular success of Operation Sindoor—an assertive military manoeuvre against Pakistan that the NDA will undoubtedly spotlight as a testament to its nationalist credentials. The ruling alliance appears poised to capitalise on the patriotic euphoria, weaving national security triumphs into its state-level narrative. Meanwhile, the opposition UPA faces a strategic conundrum—caught between countering the jingoistic wave and articulating a locally resonant alternative vision, a task that appears Sisyphean in the prevailing sentiment. Compounding the political intrigue is the advancing age of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Whispers of a potential leadership transition within the NDA have gained traction. Should Kumar step aside, speculation intensifies over whether a BJP or JD(U) stalwart would emerge as the alliance's face, with implications for intra-coalition dynamics. In essence, Bihar's electoral verdict will transcend local governance—it will be a litmus test of popular mood, ideological resonance, and the evolving contours of national versus regional political priorities. N Sadhasiva Reddy, Bengaluru
The Print
29 minutes ago
- The Print
‘Freeze seats or increase proportionately': Andhra CM Naidu limits Modi govt's delimitation options
'And if you increase the seats (total seats in the Lok Sabha), increase it proportionately (for the states),' Naidu said in an exclusive interview with ThePrint Saturday. New Delhi: Go for delimitation but don't change the existing number of Lok Sabha seats that every state has, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said, virtually constricting the scope of census-based re-allocation of Lok Sabha seats to states. His Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with 16 Lok Sabha MPs is crucial to the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 293 MPs, 21 more than the majority mark. Naidu's stance would have a strong bearing on how the Modi government goes about the delimitation exercise. The two options given by Naidu diminish the possibility of population-based redrawing of Lok Sabha constituencies—a sore issue for the southern states. They argue that re-allocation of seats on the basis of population would bring down their representation in the Lok Sabha, which, they say, amounts to punishing them for controlling their population. Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin has alleged that there is a 'sinister design' in the way the Modi government at the Centre is going about conducting the census and subsequent delimitation. He said the states that ignored population control would be rewarded with additional seats, which would distort the federal structure. 'Indian population is reducing. If they go for delimitation, heartburn will be there. You can go (for delimitation), (but) don't change the number (of seats). Freeze the number, then go for delimitation,' Naidu told ThePrint. 'If you increase (Lok Sabha seats), increase proportionately. Otherwise, there will be heartburn. Sentiments are involved,' the Andhra CM added. Explaining further, he said that if Lok Sabha constituencies are reconfigured population-wise, it should be done 'within the state'. For instance, if there are 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh and 39 in Tamil Nadu, these numbers should remain the same even if constituencies are redrawn population-wise. Naidu has no issues even if the Centre chooses to increase the overall strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 848 or so. '543 or more depends on policymakers. Increase but proportionately,' he said. For instance, if Tamil Nadu with 39 seats has 7.18 per cent share of the Lok Sabha, it should have the same percentage of the overall seats even after they are increased. The Centre is set to issue a notification for the 2027 census next week and the delimitation exercise is likely to be started after the final population count. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has maintained that concerns of the southern states will be taken care of, but the Centre has been equivocal about whether the population-based delimitation would keep the states' shares in the Lok Sabha—in terms of numbers or proportionate representation—the same. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: Delimitation freeze gave us time, but now India's democracy faces a ticking time bomb
The Print
29 minutes ago
- The Print
Modi says no caste in India then calls himself OBC: Rahul attacks PM citing caste census move
'Narendra Modi used to say in every speech, I am OBC. Then, on the caste census, they say that there is no caste in India. If there is no caste in India, then how did Narendra Modi become an OBC? My goal is to conduct a caste census. I had said this to Narendra Modi face to face in Lok Sabha – there will be a caste census, and you know he has a habit of surrendering,' Rahul Gandhi posted on Congress X handle. He questioned PM Modi's claim of being an OBC while asserting that the BJP denies the existence of caste in India, emphasising the need for a genuine caste census. Patna : Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi attended the 'Samvidhan Sabha' in Rajgir, Nalanda, on Friday. Addressing the gathering, Gandhi emphasised the need for a caste census and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stance on the issue. Rahul Gandhi emphasised the importance of conducting a caste census, asserting that it would reveal the country's actual social and economic dynamics. Gandhi stressed that a genuine caste census would undermine the current political landscape, particularly for the ruling party. He mentioned US President Donald Trump's claim that he had made Narendra Modi surrender, suggesting that Modi's silence on the issue was telling. 'My aim is caste census. In Lok Sabha, in front of Modi ji, I told him that caste census would be conducted. And you know he has a habit of surrendering. Trump has said 11 times in public that he made Narendra Modi surrender. But Narendra Modi ji cannot utter a word because it is the truth…They will never get a genuine caste census done because the day they get it done, their politics will end…,' said the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. He highlighted two models – the BJP's closed-door approach and Telangana's inclusive method, which involved public input. 'There are two models of caste census- A BJP model and second Telangana model. In the BJP model, officers decided the questions in a closed room, 90% of which had no one. The most important thing in the caste census is which questions are being asked. At the same time, we openly asked questions from the public in Telangana. We told the Dalits, backward classes, tribals, minorities and their associations that we are going to conduct a caste census – what kind of questions do you want? People from every section gave us different kinds of questions. About 3 lakh people have prepared questions for caste census in open meetings,' he posted from Congress X handle. The central government on Wednesday announced that the Population Census-2027 will be conducted in two phases and will also include the enumeration of castes. Opposition parties accused the government of further delaying the nationwide enumeration exercise. According to the MHA statement, the reference date for the 'Population Census-2027 will be 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027, for most parts of the country. 'However, for the Union Territory of Ladakh, and the non-synchronous snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026.' The government has also indicated that a notification of intent to conduct the census, adhering to the timelines mentioned above, will be published in the Official Gazette on June 16, 2025. This will be done under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, which governs the legal framework for the decennial census exercise in India. The 2021 census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Census 2027 is slated to be one of the most comprehensive data-gathering exercises undertaken by the Indian government. The Census of India was conducted under the provisions of the Census Act of 1948 and the Census Rules of 1990. The last Census of India was conducted in 2011 in two phases, namely i) Phase I – House Listing (HLO) (1 April to 30 September 2010) and (ii) Phase II – Population Enumeration (PE) (February 9 to February 28, 2011) with reference date – 00:00 hours of the first day of March 2011, except for snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for which it was conducted during September 11 to 30, 2010 with reference date as 00.00 hours of the first day of October 2010. Census 2021 was also proposed to be conducted in two phases similarly, with phase I during April-September 2020 and the second phase in February 2021. All the preparations for the first phase of the Census to be conducted in 2021 were completed, and field work was scheduled to begin in some States/UTs from April 1, 2020. However, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country, the census work was postponed. Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi, who arrived in Gaya, visited the Dashrath Manjhi Memorial, accompanied by members of Manjhi's family. As part of his visit, he will attend various events in the region. The Mountain Man lived in Gehlaur village, near Gaya. As per the Bihar Government, Manjhi carved a path 110 m long (360 ft), 9.1 m (30 ft) wide and 7.7 m (25 ft) deep through a ridge of hills using only a hammer and chisel. After 22 years of work, Dashrath shortened the travel between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya town from 55 km to 15 km. He breathed his last on August 17, 2007, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The Government of Bihar gave him a state funeral, proposed his name for the Padma Shri award in 2006 in the social service sector and released a stamp by the India Post in the 'Personalities of Bihar' series on December 26, 2016. This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also read: How Modi govt's Caste census move has opened fault-lines within BJP
