Latest news with #ExternalAffairsMinistry
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Bhandara 'Baron': How UP Man Ran A Fake Embassy In Ghaziabad For 7 Years
New Delhi: A swanky two-storey building, four cars with diplomatic number plates parked outside, a name plate that read, "Grand Duchy of Westarctica" and "H E HV Jain Honorary Consul" -- the fake embassy busted in Ghaziabad near Delhi is a perfect example of hiding in plain sight. Harshvardhan Jain, who was arrested after Uttar Pradesh's Special Task Force busted the fake embassy, allegedly ran a job scam by promising people work abroad. He is also accused of being part of a money laundering racket through hawala and forging diplomatic documents. Officers of the STF have recovered the cars with diplomatic number plates, 'diplomatic passports' of 12 micronations, documents with stamps of the External Affairs Ministry, stamps of 34 nations, Rs 44 lakh in cash, foreign currency, 18 diplomatic number plates, and a luxury watch collection. A Diplomatic Camouflage To carry out his illegal activities, Jain had prepared the perfect cover. He ran a consulate from a rented property in Ghaziabad. These premises had the flags of India and Westarctica, a micronation in Antarctica not recognised by any sovereign state in the world. Outside this plush property were luxury cars, including an Audi and a Mercedes, with diplomatic number plates. Jain's office had morphed photographs in which he is seen with Prime Ministers and Presidents. According to investigators, Jain would use this front for networking and then lure people with jobs abroad. This fake embassy had been running since 2017, the probe reveals. Jain would organise charity events, including bhandaras (community feast), outside the 'embassy' to keep up the show. A Shady Past Back in 2011, a police case was registered against Jain after he was found to have a satellite phone. Investigators also found photos of Jain that suggest he was close to controversial "godman" Chandraswami and Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. Chandraswami, a self-proclaimed godman, had risen to influence in the 80s and 90s, so much so that he was considered the spiritual adviser of three Prime Ministers - PV Narasimha Rao, Chandra Shekhar and VP Singh. He came under the scanner for financial irregularities and was arrested in 1996. A raid at his ashram also uncovered dealings with Khashoggi. Chandraswami was also accused of funding the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Jain's links with such figures point to the fake diplomat's shady past. A Micronation's 'Baron' Outside the fake embassy in Ghaziabad, a plate identifies Jain as 'H.E. HV Jain, Consul-General of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica'. Westarctica is a micronation founded by a US Navy officer, but not recognised by any country. Days before the UP STF busted the fake embassy, the official Instagram handle of Westarctica had shared photos of its "Consulate-General in New Delhi". "Managed by Baron HV Jain, Westarctica's Consulate-General in New Delhi has been operational since 2017. In addition to representing Westarctica's interests in India, Baron Jain also distributes food to the local population 5 times per year, serving over 1,000 people in need," the caption read, sharing photos of the building in Ghaziabad and a 'bhandara' organised by Jain. What Is 'Westarctica'? Travis McHenry, a US Navy officer, founded the micronation 'Westarctica' in 2001 and appointed himself its Grand Duke. Located in Antarctica, Westarctica has an area of 6,20,000 square miles; McHenry used a loophole in the Antarctic Treaty System to appoint himself the ruler. While the treaty prohibits countries from laying claim to parts of Antarctica, it says nothing about private individuals. Westarctica claims it has 2,356 citizens -- none of them live there. Based in southern California, the Grand Duchy of Westarctica functions as a non-profit that spreads awareness about climate change and Antarctica. It has its flag, currency and also issues titles that no government recognises. Westarctica is not the only one. There are scores of micronations that claim sovereignty, but are not recognised by any State.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
PM Modi to visit UK and Maldives, key trade pact and diplomatic reset likely
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26 in a high-stakes diplomatic tour focused on advancing bilateral ties and formalising a major free trade agreement (FTA) with Britain. 'During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Starmer on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance,' the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. The centrepiece of the visit on July 23 and 24 is expected to be the formal signing of the India-UK FTA, finalised in May and currently undergoing legal scrubbing by both sides. The landmark deal aims to double bilateral trade, which is currently valued at $60 billion by 2030. It is expected to boost Indian exports of textiles, leather and engineering goods, while slashing tariffs on British whisky, automobiles, and medical devices.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Protest against Gaza violence in Delhi met with counter-demonstration
For about half an hour on Saturday afternoon, the Nehru Place market — the go-to destination for repair and purchase of computers, phones and practically every other gadget – was taken over by the spectacle of a protest and a spontaneous counter-demonstration to raise questions on the protesters' 'nationalism'. At 12:30 pm, several protesters held up placards condemning the violence in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinians, condemning the Indian government's 'cooperation with Israel' and its abstention on United Nations' resolutions against the violence. Organisers, including civil society activists, artists and academics, chose to hold a silent gathering of about 30 people. They said that they did not seek either police permission or 'bandobast'. 'The fact is that we are denied permission to gather outside the Israeli Embassy or the External Affairs Ministry. It is more feasible and creates an impact to do smaller gatherings like this one,' said economist Jean Dreze, who was among those leading the protest. Former IAS officer and Karwan-e-Mohabbat founder Harsh Mander saw 'the need for such a protest, not just to criticise the governments of Israel and India but to raise the issue of the suffering in Gaza for the public at large'. 'In Europe and the United States, there have been harsh actions against protesters, including detention and criminal action… Yet, campuses and civil society have continued to raise their voice. We haven't seen that in India. It is, therefore, important that we go to the people.' However, within minutes of the Palestinian flags and posters being displayed, a group of men, mostly local shopkeepers and workers, took umbrage at the expression of solidarity. They began shouting slogans such as 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. 'Ye log Bangladesh mein Hinduon ke paksh mein kabhi kyon nahi bolte? Israel mein jo atankwadi hamla hua tha, woh bhool gaye? (Why don't these people ever speak about Hindus being killed in Bangladesh? Have they forgotten about the terrorist attack on Israel?),' said Anshul, who refused to give a last name. He repairs and sells mobile phones at one of the many kiosks in the market. Questioning how a protest about the killing of civilians half a continent away became about nationalism and religion, Nandita Narain, a retired professor of Mathematics, St Stephen's College, and former Delhi University Teachers' Association President, said, 'What is the connection between? … Their slogan is a political one, based on an unfortunate ignorance.' Author Achin Vanaik said, 'It doesn't seem like they (the counter protesters) were organised, or had planned this from before… that is also disturbing.' Two constables tried to get the protesters to disperse. 'All we are asking is that they get permission and come. We will ensure that everything goes smoothly once they have permission… what if the situation had turned even more violent?' said one of them. 'Kalkaji police station isn't far… they should have got permission… I got to know only because one of the shopkeepers called and informed me of the suspicious activity,' he added.
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First Post
6 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Crude truth: India draws a red line on strategic autonomy amid Nato pressure
Sovereignty cannot be traded for approval ratings in Brussels or Washington. Energy security, economic pragmatism, and strategic autonomy will continue to define India's foreign policy no matter who disapproves read more In a sharp and measured response to Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte's recent threat of secondary sanctions, India made it unequivocally clear on Thursday that it will not compromise its national interest at the altar of Western political expediency. The Ministry of External Affairs cautioned against 'double standards' and defended its procurement of Russian crude oil as a decision rooted in market logic and sovereign responsibility. The West may be attempting to reassert control over the global order through pressure tactics, but India, along with other Brics nations, has outgrown the phase of bowing to moral lectures from the Atlantic alliance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rutte's comments, delivered from Washington, marked a significant escalation. In what can only be described as a veiled threat, he warned India, China, and Brazil that continued commercial ties with Russia could 'hit them very hard'. His statement followed US President Donald Trump's announcement of 'very severe tariffs' on Russia if peace with Ukraine is not achieved within 50 days. Taken together, these remarks are not just an extension of Western frustration at the failure to isolate Moscow; they represent a deliberate attempt to bully large, independent powers that have dared to chart their course on the Ukraine conflict. India's reaction was firm but diplomatic. 'We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments,' said Randhir Jaiswal, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson. 'Securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us,' he added. Most critically, he warned against 'any double standards on the matter', a phrase that cuts to the heart of the global hypocrisy that defines Western foreign policy today. Let's be clear: when Europe continued to import Russian gas in the initial months of the Ukraine war under the guise of 'energy dependency', it was considered a rational act. When India does the same with crude oil, it's branded as undermining the global order. Why should New Delhi entertain such selective outrage? Rutte's remarks betray an old colonial instinct that the West still struggles to shed: that major non-Western powers are expected to play second fiddle to transatlantic dictates. However, the world of 2025 is not the unipolar, West-centric world of the 1990s. India today is not just the fourth-largest economy in the world but a key pole in the emerging multipolar world order—one that does not automatically align with Nato's geopolitical chessboard. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India's energy diplomacy with Russia is grounded in pragmatism. With discounts on Russian crude offering a cushion against global price shocks, it has had to manage inflation, keep its fiscal deficit in check, and ensure the supply of affordable fuel to its vast population. For a country where hundreds of millions still live close to the poverty line, the idea of sacrificing energy security to satisfy Western foreign policy objectives is both irresponsible and morally indefensible. Moreover, India's balanced and independent position on the Ukraine conflict has found resonance in the Global South. Far from isolating Russia, the West's sanctions regime has unintentionally strengthened the Brics and other alternative groupings. The Global South sees the Ukraine war not as a simple battle between good and evil, but as a proxy war between geopolitical blocs, with Europe dragging the world into an economic quagmire of its own making. Rutte's suggestion that India should call up Russian President Vladimir Putin and urge him to negotiate peace is, frankly, laughable. Since when has Nato or the US needed moral nudging from countries like India to pursue diplomacy? Nato's track record in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq hardly makes it a credible champion of peace. Instead of lectures, the West should reflect on the consequences of its zero-sum approach that leaves no space for neutral positions or alternative diplomatic pathways. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Equally concerning is Donald Trump's effort to portray India's ties with other Brics nations as 'anti-American'. This line of thinking is reductive and dangerous. India's membership in Brics does not make it anti-Western. Rather, it reflects its desire to be part of a diversified global architecture, one where financial systems, energy flows, and political narratives are not monopolised by a single bloc. India's strategic autonomy has been a consistent thread in its foreign policy from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi. Whether it was refusing to join Western sanctions during the Cold War or rejecting Chinese-dominated narratives today, India has always maintained a careful balance. The West must recognise that its geopolitical anxieties do not automatically become India's priorities. Indeed, this episode exposes the growing tensions between the older order, represented by Nato, and the emerging realities of a multipolar world. The West, rather than expanding its coercive apparatus, should start investing in genuine partnerships that respect mutual interests and sovereignty. The language of threats and tariffs only hardens positions and alienates rising powers like India, which have long outgrown their role as passive rule-takers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India is not alone in this stance. Brazil and China, too, have deepened their economic engagement with Russia since the Ukraine war. Despite relentless pressure, they have refused to toe the Nato line. The result? An alternative ecosystem of trade, diplomacy, and energy cooperation is gradually but firmly taking shape, one that may soon rival the West's dominance of global systems. In sum, Rutte's remarks and Trump's tariff threats only underline the West's growing desperation to maintain relevance in a rapidly changing world. India's response, by contrast, reflects the maturity, balance, and confidence of a rising power that knows where its interests lie. Sovereignty cannot be traded for approval ratings in Brussels or Washington. Energy security, economic pragmatism, and strategic autonomy will continue to define India's foreign policy no matter who disapproves. Let the world take note: India is not a vassal state. It is a civilisational power that makes its own choices. And those choices will always put Indians first. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The writer is a technocrat, political analyst, and author. He pens national, geopolitical, and social issues. His social media handle is @prosenjitnth. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
India non-committal on revival of Russia-India-China framework
India on Thursday (July 17, 2025) indicated that any revival of the Russia-India-China (RIC) mechanism hinges on mutual convenience of the three countries. New Delhi's comments came hours after the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing supports Russia's initiative to revive the RIC mechanism as it not only serves the interest of the three countries but also helps uphold the security and stability of the region. "This consultative format is a mechanism where the three countries come and discuss global issues and regional issues of interest to them," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. "As to when this particular RIC format meeting is going to be held, it is something that will be worked out among the three countries in a mutually convenient manner," he said responding to a question. Official sources said no meeting of the RIC format has been agreed to at this point in time and there are no discussions underway on its scheduling. Russian media quoted Russia's deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko as saying on Thursday (July 17, 2025) that Moscow expects the resumption of the RIC format and is discussing this issue with Beijing and New Delhi. "This topic appears in our negotiations with both of them. We are interested in making this format work, because these three countries are important partners, besides the founders of BRICS," Mr. Rudenko said. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: "China-Russia-India cooperation not only serves the respective interests of the three countries but also helps uphold peace, security, stability and progress in the region and the world." "China stands ready to maintain communication with Russia and India on advancing trilateral cooperation," he said. Work under the RIC format was stalled, first because of the Covid pandemic and later by the India-China military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last year. Under the RIC framework, the foreign ministers of the three countries used to meet periodically to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of their interest.
