800 Gujaratis cancel Turkey trip over Pakistan support: ‘We can do this much for our country'
More than 800 members of the Jain Lotus Group in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, have cancelled their post-Diwali travel plans to Turkey, citing the country's recent show of support for Pakistan. According to a report in Mid-Day, the group had planned a 12-day trip, which now stands cancelled.
The Jain Lotus Group is among a growing number of Indian travellers who are scrapping trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan in protest. Both countries publicly backed Pakistan following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor and the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
While Azerbaijan released an official statement echoing Pakistan's position on the conflict, Turkey supported Islamabad's call for an international investigation into the Pahalgam attack. Turkey has also previously supplied arms to Pakistan.
"Bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreasing by 60% (over the last week) while cancellations have surged by 250% during the same period," Reuters quoted a spokesperson for MakeMyTrip, as saying.
The Jain Lotus Group is an Ahmedabad-based organisation which counts over 1,000 couples as its members. According to the Mid-Day report, the group members had planned to visit Turkey after Diwali.
Jain Lotus Group Treasurer Vipul Shah told Mid-Day that the decision was taken on moral grounds.
'We have canceled the trip due to this. About 800 people from our Jain Lotus Group were to go to Turkey after Diwali. We had planned a tour of 12 days and 11 nights. We had decided to go to four places in Turkey, including Cappadocia and Istanbul.
'All the members had planned to reach Turkey in groups of 80 people every third day, not on the same day,' Shah explained.
'However, considering the current situation between India and Pakistan, the core committee, including our president and joint secretary, took everyone's individual opinions and the committee jointly decided that we would not go to Turkey to tour, a country that supports our country's enemy, Pakistan,' said the treasurer.
Shah added that this is the least that they could do for India. 'We cannot go to war as an army, but we can do this much in support of the country, right?' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
19 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Jio Financial gets Sebi nod for brokerage unit
MUMBAI: Jio Financial has said its subsidiary Jio Blackrock has got the Sebi nod to launch a stock broking unit under the name of Jio BlackRock Broking. The announcement saw Jio shares jumping close to 5 per cent on Friday, making it the fourth straight session of gains for the stock, which has advanced over 10 per cent over the past four trading days. Jio BlackRock Broking has received a certificate of registration from Sebi on June 25, allowing it to operate as a stockbroker and clearing member, the company informed the exchanges Friday. In July 2023, Jio Financial and the US-based BlackRock had announced a 50:50 joint venture for an AMC business with a digital-first model. And since then the partners have infused Rs 117 crore in mutual fund business, which got the regulatory approvals earlier this month. And in January this year, both the partners invested another Rs 117 crore into the mutual fund business.
Mint
26 minutes ago
- Mint
Why US wants your social media account details to grant visas: Explained
Framing every visa decision as a matter of "national security," the U.S. has mandated that applicants submit the usernames or handles of all social media platforms they have used over the past five years. The statement, which was posted on X, read, 'Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit.' The communication continued, 'Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.' At the weekly media briefing in capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked to respond to the statement of the US authorities. Jaiswal continued, 'It is our belief that all visa applications of Indian nationals should be treated on the basis of merit. And, we remain engaged with the US side on all mobility issues and consular issues to ensure that the legitimate interests of Indian nationals are safeguarded.' On June 23, the US Embassy asked those applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa to switch the privacy settings of their social media accounts to "public" to facilitate vetting, which it said was necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the US under law. The embassy had also said that since 2019, the US has required visa applicants to provide "social media identifiers" on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms. F or M category is for student visas and J category for exchange visitor visa. In Thursday's communication, the embassy also attached two related digital posters. "Every U.S. visa adjudication is a national security decision," read the caption on the top of a poster followed by a note. The note read, 'The United States requires visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on visa application forms. We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting.' Social media vetting involves reviewing a person's online presence—especially on platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn—to assess their behavior, affiliations, and public reputation. This practice is increasingly being used in immigration and visa processes. In a recent policy update, the U.S. State Department informed its consulates that foreign students applying for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas are now 'requested' to make their social media profiles publicly accessible. The aim is to allow officials to verify applicants' identities and conduct more thorough background checks. This move signals a tightening of security protocols, with social media activity now playing a significant role in visa vetting. Applicants are advised to ensure their online profiles reflect accurate, professional, and consistent information. The recent announcements come amid a broader immigration crackdown, including enforcement action in Los Angeles, California, under the Trump administration. In a statement issued on June 24, the embassy emphasised that the US has intensified the enforcement of immigration laws, warning that violators could face detention, deportation, and permanent ineligibility for future visas. The US also cautioned that anyone entering the country illegally would be subject to jail time and deportation. Earlier, on June 19, the embassy clarified that holding a U.S. visa is 'a privilege, not a right,' and that screening continues even after a visa is issued. The statement noted that a visa can be revoked if the holder violates U.S. laws. The embassy had also said that using illegal drugs or breaking any of the US laws while on a student or visitor visa could make one ineligible for future US visa. Earlier this month, the US Embassy in India also issued statements, underlining that while people travelling legally to America were welcome, illegal entry or abuse of visas won't be tolerated by the country. The United States 'will not tolerate' those who facilitate illegal and mass immigration to the US, its embassy said on June 16. The US Embassy had said the US had "established new visa restrictions" targeting foreign government officials and violators.
India.com
27 minutes ago
- India.com
Rs 45 lakh Just To Raise A Child? Why Young Couples Are Rethinking Parenthood
New Delhi: Having kids isn't just an emotional decision anymore, it's a financial one too. The cost of raising a child in India has now touched Rs 45 lakh and many parents are starting to feel the pressure. From school fees and healthcare to daily expenses, parenting today is beginning to feel more like a luxury than a given. Bengaluru-based startup founder Meenal Goel shared a post on LinkedIn, breaking down the costs of raising a child and it's eye-opening. Her breakdown shows how even middle-class families are finding parenting harder to afford these days. She wrote, 'The cost of raising a child in India is around Rs 45 lakh! We're scared to have a kid because we just can't afford it.' She recalled meeting a couple who said this and honestly, she agrees. The expenses start piling up right from day one and without proper planning, it can feel overwhelming. That's why budgeting early is more important than ever. Goel further wrote, "So I sat down and did the math. What does it actually cost to raise a child in India in 2025?" She broke it down step by step—starting right from birth. Just the hospital delivery can cost anywhere between Rs 1.5 to Rs 2.5 lakh and vaccinations alone can add another Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000. Even before preschool begins, the bills start stacking up. Must-have baby items like diapers, food, and gear can easily cost around Rs 3 lakh. Add playschool and daycare expenses roughly another Rs 2.5 lakh and you're already looking at a total of Rs 7–8 lakh by the time your child is ready for school. She also pointed out that the school years from age 6 to 17 are one of the costliest phases. Just the school fees can add up to Rs 12 lakh. Throw in extra tuition, coaching classes, gadgets, uniforms, books, and activities, and the total reaches around Rs 17 lakh. And that's still not the end. Higher education is another big expense. With private college fees, hostel charges, food, and daily living costs, college alone can set parents back by another Rs 13 lakh. When you add it all up, the cost of raising just one child comes to around Rs 38–45 lakh, Goel writes. 'Finance is a real fear when it comes to family planning. Are you also planning to have a kid in 2025 and feeling the money pressure?' she asked. With the rising cost of living, pricey schools and soaring healthcare bills, many young couples are starting to rethink parenthood. Some are even putting their plans on hold entirely. Starting a family is a deeply personal decision but these days money plays a big role in that choice. With costs only expected to go up, planning ahead and saving smartly can help take some of the pressure off for future parents.
