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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Donald Trump says India-US trade deal close, warns Pakistan tension
President Trump announced the U.S. is nearing a trade deal with India, while Pakistan is expected in Washington for talks. He cautioned that conflict between India and Pakistan could jeopardize these negotiations. These developments occur amid heightened tensions and potential tariffs on Pakistani exports, as India and the U.S. aim for an interim trade deal by early July. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads US President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States is 'very close to making a deal with India,' while also confirming that a representative from Pakistan is expected to visit Washington for talks next week. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said, 'Pakistan representatives are coming in next week. We're very close to making a deal with India.'However, he warned that any ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan could derail such negotiations. 'And I wouldn't have any interest in making a deal with either if they were going to be at war with each other,' he comments came amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, following India's May 10 'Operation Sindoor' — a counterstrike in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 parallel, the United States has announced worldwide tariffs, which could now apply to Pakistani exports due to its $3 billion trade surplus with the US. Pakistani goods could be subjected to tariffs of up to 29%.Amid these developments, Indian Union minister Piyush Goyal recently visited Washington to push forward bilateral trade negotiations. Both nations are aiming to conclude an interim deal by early July. This comes in the backdrop of a looming 26% tariff on Indian exports to the ministry of external affairs has confirmed that India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri visited the United States from May 27 to 29. The Indian Embassy called his meeting with US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau a 'great first meeting' that addressed a broad range of shared priorities between the two Reuters reported last week that India is likely to open up its government procurement market to American companies. The expected move would allow US firms to bid for contracts worth over $50 billion, largely from federal agencies, as part of the ongoing trade discussions with Trump had again claimed that US trade discussions with both India and Pakistan helped prevent a nuclear disaster. 'We talk trade, and we say we can't trade with people who are shooting at each other and potentially using nuclear weapons… They understood and they agreed, and that all stopped,' Trump said.'I think the deal I'm most proud of is the fact that we're dealing with India, we're dealing with Pakistan, and we were able to stop potentially a nuclear war through trade as opposed to bullets. You know, normally they do it through bullets. We do it through trade. So I'm very proud of that. Nobody talks about it. But we had a very nasty potential war going on between Pakistan and India. And now, if you look, they're doing fine,' he added.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
A small state with big vision
The India Today State of the States—Sikkim@50 conclave, held in New Delhi on May 22, marked 50 years since the Himalayan state's accession to the Indian Union. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang—re-elected with a near-total mandate last year—hailed the moment as historic not just for Sikkim, but for the outlined three core governance priorities: national security, connectivity and human development. He cited the transfer of the Sevoke-Rangpo stretch of the NH-10 from West Bengal to the central authority and upcoming railway connectivity by 2026 as transformative for trade and Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang | High on ambition:The Sikkim@50 Conclave reflects on the state's transformation and its future. advertisementOn health, he shared that dialysis services have now reached every district hospital, cancer treatment has begun in the state, and a new 500-bed referral hospital is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 29. Education, aligned early with the National Education Policy, is also central. The state already has a literacy rate exceeding 90 per cent, and the government aims for universal literacy by 2027. Tamang also envisions at least one university in every constituency to stem youth migration. His flagship 'One Family, One Entrepreneur' scheme has disbursed Rs 240 crore in collateral-free loans to over 25,000 applicants, fostering grassroots enterprise. Environmental stewardship remains core to Sikkim's identity. The 'Mero Rukh, Mero Santati' (My Tree, My Family) scheme links afforestation with financial security for conclave also featured insights on strategic policy, sustainable development and Sikkim's vision for 2047. From women changemakers to educationists, from MPs, ministers and top officials to entrepreneurs and football icon Bhaichung Bhutia, the event showcased a 50-year-young state determined to scale new heights. Must Watch advertisement
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Goa Statehood Day 2025: Know why we celebrate it on May 30, the history, significance, and celebrations
Goa Statehood Day 2025: Goa, famous for its stunning beaches and as a sought-after tourist destination, is the smallest state in India by area. Located on the west coast of India, Goa was a Portuguese colony for over 450 years until it was liberated by India in December 1961 and given the status of a union territory along with Daman and Diu. However, Goa attained full statehood on May 30, 1987, and became the 25th state of the Republic of India, which is why we celebrate its statehood day on May 30 every year. This year, we will be marking the 39th Goa Statehood Day, falling on Friday, May 30, 2025. The significance behind this day lies in Goa's official integration as a state within the Indian Union, following centuries of Portuguese colonial rule. The day is celebrated through cultural events and festivities across the state, recognising Goa's rich heritage and the sacrifices made during the struggle for liberation from Portuguese rule. This year, the 39th Goa Statehood Day state-level function will be held at Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Kala Academy, Panaji, at 11 AM on May 30, 2025, and will be marked by book releases, web series launches, photo exhibitions, and the felicitation of iconic Goan brands. On the proud occasion of 39th #GoaStatehoodDay, heartfelt greetings to all Goenkars! Today, we celebrate the historic moment when Goa became the 25th state of the Indian Union, a land known for its diverse culture and uplifting spirit, which is now reinforced with a progressive… — Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) May 30, 2025
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
How royals, British, Tibetans and political parties shaped Sikkim's faith
The summer of 1975 saw a key shift in India's map. On May 16, Sikkim officially became the 22nd state of the Indian Union through the 36th Amendment of the Constitution, following a public vote that supported joining development was not sudden. It came after more than 20 years of political talks, unrest, and treaties. The monarchy of the Chogyal rulers came to an end, and Sikkim moved from a protectorate (a state that is controlled and protected by another) to full links to the Indian region go back centuries. Some early legends connect its rulers to India's ancient past. After independence in 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel took on the task of bringing over 550 princely states into the Union. Sikkim stayed out of this process but remained in close contact with 1950, under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, India and Sikkim signed a treaty. This agreement allowed India to handle defence, communication, and foreign affairs -- areas that had been managed similarly during British time, protests grew in Sikkim. Demands for democratic reform gained support. In 1975, a referendum was held. Most people voted to end the monarchy and join leaders -- Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, and later, Indira Gandhi -- each played a part in this shift. Patel laid the groundwork, Nehru handled early diplomacy, and Gandhi oversaw the final step. The last Chogyal ruler with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (Image: Wikimedia Commons) advertisementTHE LAST MONARCHS OF SIKKIMThe Chogyal dynasty of Sikkim began its rule in the 17th century, following centuries of Tibetan influence that dated back to around the 7th the time, the region was largely inhabited and governed by the Lepchas, Limbus, and Magars. In the early 1600s, a major Tibetan migration into the area led to the consecration of Phuntsog Namgyal as the first dynasty maintained its rule for generations until British interest in the region grew. During the Anglo-Gorkha War of 1814-16, Sikkim aligned with the British against the Gorkhas of Nepal. The alliance resulted in territorial gains for the Chogyals at Nepal's Great Game of the 19th century between Soviet Russia and Britain opened new possibilities for the region. Both British India and Qing China viewed Sikkim as a strategic as Chinese control over Tibet declined in the early 19th century, the British extended their reach northwards. This culminated in British military expeditions into the late 19th century, Sikkim's isolation had ended. The kingdom was increasingly drawn into the geopolitical calculations of the British Empire, setting the stage for deeper integration in the decades to not formally annexed into Her Majesty's dominions, the sovereignty of Sikkim had been considerably tempered by a series of solemn treaties and diplomatic understandings with the East India Company and its 'British Sikkim' existed, 'Independent Sikkim' remained as a rump state based in Gangtok, controlling about 2,500 square miles (6,500 km) of land," writes Sir Richard Carnac Temple in his most notable of these instruments is the Treaty of Tumlong, concluded in the year 1861, whereby a formal protectorate was established. King of Sikkim with a group of Tibetan lamas (Image: Wikimedia Commons) By this accord, the British assumed control over the affairs of Sikkim without laying full claim to its lands, permitting the native Chogyals to retain their throne, albeit under the watchful eye of imperial agents and the British agent has been deployed in the capital Convention of Lhasa, held in 1904 following the British expedition into Tibet, further affirmed the articles of the earlier Calcutta Convention, thus strengthening the British position in the region and placing Sikkim ever more firmly within the imperial INDIA AND SIKKIMAfter the British left India in 1947, the princely states of India had to make a decision whether to be part of India or the newly made Pakistan. Most of the states chose to be either with India or Pakistan; several, however, took a stance that turned into an uphill task for the leaders of Singh of Jammu and Kashmir, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the ruler of Junagadh remained undecided at that no such direct control of the British over Sikkim, the challenge was on the table for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and then Prime Minister Jawaharlal a most deliberate and statesmanlike endeavour, it has been recorded in the work The Origin of India's States by Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan, that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in concert with the esteemed constitutional counsellor to the Assembly of the Realm, BN Rau, did set forth upon a noble enterprise -- to draw the Kingdom of Sikkim into the fold of the Indian dominion.A popular vote for Sikkim to join the Indian Union failed, and the Indian government was forced to agree upon special protectorate status for people by then were allowed to travel on Indian passports abroad, and in times of security threats, India could override domestic powers as mentioned in the growing Communist Chinese influence in the region made India worrisome, and the invasion of Tibet by China shook the chairs in Delhi. Indian soldiers at the Chinese Border during the Indo-Sino War (Image: Wikimedia Commons) "In 1959, the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet highlighted Sikkim's strategic importance to both India and China. Prime Minister Nehru remarked that the Chumbi Valley, held by China, was a dagger pointed at the heart of India. During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Indian forces moved to prevent a Chinese advance, leading to brief skirmishes," writes Andrew Duff in A Himalayan Chess the Sino-Indian War, the forces of India blocked the Sikkim passes to counter any possible threats from the region. The strategy remained successful, and Sikkim was never invaded by the SIKKIM BECAME INDIA 'S 22ND STATEThe political turmoil in the state weakened the monarchy in a decade, and with a strong democratic presence in India, there were a higher chance of installing a pro-democratic government in the work Sikkim: Dawn of Democracy, a former RAW agent Sidhu recounts how, in 1973, he led a discreet mission to official charge was to inform the Chogyal of Chinese movements, yet his true task was to advise the Sikkim Congress and support the kingdom's entry into year, protests against the monarchy grew, surrounding the royal palace with Chogyal, pressed by unrest, requested help from New Delhi, which sent troops. A tripartite agreement was signed between the Chogyal, the Indian government, and political parties to bring political 1974, elections were held, won by the Sikkim Congress under Kazi Dorji. A new constitution reduced the monarch to a figurehead. The following year, a referendum showed strong support to abolish the monarchy and join after, India's Ministry of External Affairs introduced the Thirty-Sixth Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha to admit Sikkim as a state. Sikkim's new parliament then proposed a bill for statehood, which India journey to becoming India's 22nd state was marked by strategic challenges, diplomatic resolve, and shifting power dynamics -- from the fading rule of the Chogyals to decisive leadership under Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira even a base for CIA operations amid Cold War anxieties, Sikkim now stands firmly on the path of progress as an integral part of India's democratic Watch
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Working On 'Act East' Policy With An 'Act Fast' Approach: PM Modi
Gangtok: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually addressed the 50th-anniversary celebrations of Sikkim's statehood, reaffirming his government's commitment to balanced regional development through the 'Act East' policy with an 'Act fast' approach. The celebration, titled Sikkim@50: Where Progress Meets Purpose and Nature Nurtures Growth, marked five decades since Sikkim became the 22nd state of India in 1975. Originally scheduled to attend the event in person in Gangtok, the Prime Minister had to address the gathering virtually from Bagdogra due to inclement weather. "I wanted to join you personally to celebrate the golden jubilee celebrations. I departed early in the morning from Delhi, however, I could only reach Bagdogra, but the weather did not allow me to go any further. However, it is nice to see such a magnificent scene in front of me, where people are everywhere," PM Modi said in his address. The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for multiple key development projects during the virtual event. These include a 500-bedded district hospital worth over Rs 750 crore in Namchi district, a passenger ropeway at Sangachoeling in Pelling, Gyalshing district, and a statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Sangkhola, Gangtok district. Additionally, he released a commemorative coin, a souvenir coin, and a postage stamp to mark the occasion. Reflecting on Sikkim's journey, the Prime Minister said, "Fifty years ago, Sikkim chose a democratic future for itself. Along with its unique geography, the people of Sikkim embraced the Indian spirit. There was a belief that when every voice is heard and every right protected, equal opportunities for development will follow." "Today, I can say that the trust of every Sikkimese family has steadily strengthened and the country has witnessed the results in Sikkim's progress," he added. Lauding the state's balanced growth, he said, "In the last 50 years, Sikkim has become a model of nature and progress... Such stars have emerged from Sikkim who have illuminated India's sky." Reaffirming his inclusive development agenda, the Prime Minister stated, "When I first came to power in 2014, I gave the slogan of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. To make India 'Viksit', it is necessary to do a balanced development of every state and region of the nation. Every state and region of India has its own speciality. Hence, our government has brought the North East to the centre of development. We are working on our 'Act East' policy with an 'Act fast' approach." The Prime Minister also referred to the recent Rising North East Summit held in New Delhi, where several industrialists and business leaders announced fresh investments for Sikkim, expected to boost local development and generate employment. The day marked a historic milestone in Sikkim's political evolution. On May 16, 1975, Sikkim transitioned from a monarchy to full statehood within the Indian Union following a referendum. The accession was accompanied by Article 371F, a special constitutional safeguard to preserve the state's unique ethnic identity, customs, and cultural traditions. Over the past five decades, Sikkim has become a model of sustainable development and eco-conscious governance, earning accolades for its green initiatives and environmental leadership. The state's government has planned a year-long celebration under the theme 'Sunaulo, Samriddha and Samarth Sikkim' to showcase its vibrant culture, rich traditions, and developmental milestones.
