Latest news with #PahalgamAttack
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- General
- Times of Oman
Delhi: EAM Jaishankar meets New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters, thanks for support on Pahalgam attack
New Delhi : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met with New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, in Delhi and thanked New Zealand for its support and solidarity on the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The two leaders reviewed the progress made in India-New Zealand partnership following the recent visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon. In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Delighted to meet DPM & FM @winstonpeters of New Zealand this evening in Delhi. Thank New Zealand for its support & solidarity on the Pahalgam terrorist attack." "Following up from the recent visit of PM @chrisluxonmp, took stock of the progress made by our partnership. Agreed that in a more volatile & uncertain world, it's important that India & New Zealand collaborate closely for a rules-based, peaceful, stable & prosperous Indo-Pacific region," he added. Peters just concluded a two-day visit to Kathmandu, where he was received by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai at the airport, along with other Foreign Ministry officials. Earlier, in a post on X Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said, "A warm welcome to DPM & FM @winstonpeters of New Zealand on his arrival in New Delhi for an official visit. This visit reflects the momentum of high level exchanges & will further strengthen the warm and friendly ties between our two countries." On Friday, May 30, Peters is scheduled to meet JP Nadda, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, at the Hotel Taj Mahal at 3:30 pm. His departure is scheduled for 9:55 pm on the same day. India and New Zealand have historically shared close and cordial ties. Similarities such as membership of the Commonwealth, common law practices and pursuing shared aspirations of achieving economic development and prosperity through democratic governance systems for diverse communities in both countries (NZ prides itself as one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world with 213 ethnicities officially recorded) provide an excellent backdrop for deepening the friendly ties, according to MEA
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"We condemn use of terror", says South Africa Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen
Cape Town [South Africa], May 29 (ANI): John Steenhuisen, Federal Leader and Minister of Agriculture of South Africa, on Wednesday (local time) extended support to India in its fight against terrorism and said that it is important for democracies to stand together, united against terror. 'India bought a very important message to South Africa today. We condemn the use of terror anywhere in the world, and it is important for democracies to stand together, united against terror... Any measures to counter terrorism need to be welcomed. As democracies, we need to find ways to combat terror globally... India is a very important strategic partner for South Africa as both are members of the BRICS,' John Steenhuisen told reporters. Steenhuisen's comment came after a meeting with the NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule-led delegation in Cape Town. Speaking to ANI after the meeting, Supriya Sule said, 'We held detailed discussions. They promised to stand with India. The G-20 Summit is going to be held here. India has deep bilateral relations with South Africa.' Earlier in the day, Sule-led delegation held talks with Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) of South Africa along with Members of the Parliament of South Africa and conveyed India's stance on combating terrorism. The delegation members explained the background of terrorist attacks in India, including the April 22 Phalgam terror attack. In a post on X, India's High Commission in Pretoria stated, 'Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Province (NCOP) of South Africa, P (Les) Govender, along with other Members of the Parliament of South Africa, met All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, MPs from India at the National Council of Provinces of South Africa. Delegation members explained the background of terrorist incidents in India, including the Pahalgam Attack, and conveyed India's united message of Zero tolerance for terrorism.' The members of the delegation are Members of Parliament Supriya Sule, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna devarayalu, Anand Sharma, former Minister of Commerce & Industry, V Muraleedharan, Former Minister of State for External Affairs, and Syed Akbaruddin, Former Permanent. Representative of India to the UN. (ANI)
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
All-party delegation led by Supriya Sule meets South Africa's Agriculture Minister
Cape Town [South Africa], May 28 (ANI): The All-Party parliamentary delegation led by NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule, met John Steenhuisen, Federal Leader and Minister of Agriculture of South Africa, on Wednesday. Speaking to ANI after the meeting, Supriya Sule said, 'We held detailed discussions. They promised to stand with India. The G-20 Summit is going to be held here. India has deep bilateral relations with South Africa.' Earlier in the day, Sule-led delegation held talks with Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) of South Africa along with Members of the Parliament of South Africa and conveyed India's stance on combating terrorism. The delegation members explained the background of terrorist attacks in India, including the April 22 Phalgam terror attack. In a post on X, India's High Commission in Pretoria stated, 'Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Province (NCOP) of South Africa, P (Les) Govender, along with other Members of the Parliament of South Africa, met All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, MPs from India at the National Council of Provinces of South Africa. Delegation members explained the background of terrorist incidents in India, including the Pahalgam Attack, and conveyed India's united message of Zero tolerance for terrorism.' 'Continuing the engagements in South Africa, the All-party delegation was welcomed and received by Consul General, Ms. Ruby Jaspreet at Cape Town for a meeting with various ministers and parliamentarians of South Africa,' it added. The all-party delegation received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora at their hotel in Johannesburg on Tuesday (local time). Chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Jai Hind' echoed through the premises as members of the diaspora gathered to greet the Group 7 delegation with enthusiasm and patriotic fervour. Earlier, after concluding their visit to Qatar, the all-party delegation departed from Doha to Johannesburg as part of their second leg of the four-nation visit to inform partner countries about Pakistan's links to terrorism, and India's Operation Sindoor launched to avenge the dastardly April 22 Pahalgam attack in which Pak-sponsored terrorists brutally killed 26 people. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), leading to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
NDTV
7 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Why Nainital Has No Tourists In Its Peak Travel Season This Year
Empty roads. No traffic. Open space parking. When you hear these phrases, several places might spring to mind - but Nainital in Uttarakhand is probably not one of them, especially during this time of year. Usually overwhelmed by tourists, Nainital and its residents are now experiencing something unusual; and for many, it's far from welcome. This shift is the result of a significant drop in the number of tourists visiting the town. According to locals we spoke to, this decline couldn't have come at a worse time - May and June - the summer months, and traditionally the peak season for tourism. '90 Per Cent Drop In Occupancy' Digvijay Singh Bisht, President of the Nainital Hotel Association, informs NDTV of a massive fall in hotel and resort bookings. He says occupancy rates have plunged by as much as 90 per cent in the last month. "Bookings were cancelled even for June. There were no walk-in guests. It's not the same as in the previous years," Bisht tells NDTV. NDTV spoke to other hoteliers, cab service providers and local business owners in Nainital, and nearly all of them echoed the same concern - a sharp and sudden decline in the number of tourists visiting the 'lake district' of India. Rana Singh* (name changed as per request), a hotelier who owns a property in Nainital and has been in the hospitality business for almost 35 years, says his property has also witnessed a 70 to 80 per cent drop in bookings. This, he points out, is despite Nainital having more pleasant weather compared to many other hill stations in Uttarakhand. "People are choosing places like Bhimtal, Mukteshwar and others, but they are skipping Nainital," Singh tells us. Amrit, a local taxi service provider who has catered to tourists in Nainital for more than 10 years, says he has seen a 50 per cent drop in cab bookings over this month. May and June usually contribute to nearly 80 per cent of their annual bookings. This fall has led to a significant loss for him and many others in the same line of work. Amit, who runs a well-known local business in town, adds to Amrit's concerns, "For businesses that rely entirely on tourist footfall, a season like this has a major impact on our income." Tourism during the peak season is crucial for Nainital. Over the years, it has not only been a key driver of economic growth but has also provided employment opportunities for a large portion of the local population. Why There are several factors contributing to the downturn in tourism in Nainital this summer. Let's take a closer look at what has pushed this once-popular destination into the shadows. The Pahalgam Attack In April 2025, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 civilians; most of whom were tourists. The incident sent shockwaves across the country and heightened security concerns. Since then, tensions along the India-Pakistan border have been high, and this has discouraged many from travelling anywhere - including peaceful hill stations like Nainital. Bisht notes that other states have also experienced a decline in tourism. "I got a call from our association members in Kerala. They wanted to know how things were in Uttarakhand. They told me their occupancy rate had also dropped since the conflict began," he says. This climate of uncertainty has made many Indians hesitant to travel to well-known tourist destinations. Communal Tensions In Nainital On May 1, communal unrest broke out in Nainital after a 12-year-old girl was allegedly assaulted by a 60-year-old man. The incident sparked protests and acts of vandalism in the town. Police arrested the accused, Osman, a contractor, and deployed security forces to prevent further violence. As news of the girl's medical examination spread, large demonstrations erupted outside the police station. Several shops owned by members of the Muslim community were vandalised, and a mosque was targeted with stones. Footage of the protests and violence went viral on social media, creating a sense of fear and uncertainty among potential visitors, many of whom cancelled their plans to visit the town. "Even though Nainital is completely safe now, the headlines and social media coverage of the unrest have created fear among tourists," says hotelier Singh. 'They Are Sending Tourists Back' Among the many reasons given by locals for the decline in tourism, one of the most common complaints is the administration's handling of tourist traffic. "They don't allow tourists to bring their own vehicles into the town. They're asked to park at least 10 km away from Nainital, which is inconvenient for many who want to travel in their personal vehicles," Amrit explains. This is the scene at Nainital highway road, just beside police barrier no 1 Aerocity Illegal parking of trucks on both side of the road is creating congestion and are also dangerous for other vehicles. @Uppolice @adgzonebareilly @igrangebareilly @myyogiadityanth @bareillypolice — Kush_Kar (@kartavya_kush) May 19, 2025 He also points out that parking charges in government areas have increased from Rs 130 per day to Rs 500 per day. This was intended to ease traffic congestion, which had been a major issue for tourists. "No one wants to spend 6 to 7 hours stuck on the road when they've come for a relaxing weekend," says local businessman Amit. Amrit, the local taxi service provider, alleges that police at checkpoints have been also advising tourists to avoid coming to Nainital due to traffic concerns. A New Toll Another contributing factor is the sudden introduction of toll taxes. Toll collection booths at Barapather and Fanshi Ghandera were introduced under a new Environment Tax system. This move was initiated during a Nagar Palika Nainital board meeting following directions from the Uttarakhand High Court. The new tolls are aimed at regulating vehicle entry and raising funds for environmental conservation in the region. What The Government Says A spokesperson from the District Magistrate's office in Nainital tells NDTV that the increase in taxes and parking charges is intended to control traffic. Moreover, it is also done to ensure that not too many cars enter the town. These charges include a toll tax of Rs 110, parking charges of Rs 500 per day, and a lake bridge tax of Rs 110, which allows access to the famous Mall Road. "Private vehicles are asked to park a few kilometres away so that we can manage the traffic load. If your hotel has parking, only then you can enter Nainital with your private vehicle," the spokesperson said. The Hope Despite this, locals and hoteliers remain hopeful that the season might still recover and tourists will return to the streets of Nainital. Amit says the new laws and regulations might attract a different kind of traveller - those who are more intentional and willing to spend more within the local economy. The locals we spoke to also mentioned that there was a noticeable return of tourists over the last weekend. Localities are hoping the tourist numbers will increase. Photo: Unsplash "Occupancy increased to 40 per cent last week, and tourists are starting to come back, now that the border tensions have eased," says Bisht. Other hoteliers, like Sonu Chhabra, who owns a property in the town, believe that the upcoming Independence-Day long weekend in August might bring a surge in visitor numbers. "We are hopeful that the tourist count will return to some level of normalcy in June. However, it's still not the same as last year," Bisht concludes.
Times of Oman
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Entire country has come together to condemn terrorism: Indian Envoy to Japan
Tokyo: Ambassador of India to Japan, Sibi George, said on Saturday that the All-Party Delegation had a productive day conducting meetings with the leaders of Japan. George told ANI that the members of the parliament were speaking on the issue of terrorism in one voice, which reflected the power of India's diversity. "It has been a great day yesterday for the members of parliament visiting the Foreign Office, the parliament, and today again we started the day with an interaction with the resident ambassadors and you have seen how proactive the engagement and interaction were there questions and answers and was very happy to see the members of the parliament replying to their questions in one voice. It's an amazing thing to see India's diversity," he said. George, in conversation with ANI, said that everyone attending the meetings condemned the dastardly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. "We had received our members of parliament yesterday early morning, and since then, it has been continuous meetings and interactions with the Japanese side. They met the Foreign Minister. They met the former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and members of the parliament from the Japanese side also attended the Raisina dialogue, where we spoke about counterterrorism and the fight against terrorism," he said. George said that Japan was the first country to voice its condemnation against the attack. All ministers expressed condolences to the families. "In India, the whole nation has come together in its fight against terrorism. Japan was one of the first countries to condemn the attack immediately after the incident on April 22nd. On 23rd itself, for Prime Minister of Japan telephoned our honourable Prime Minister and condemned the terror attacks, extended full support in the fight against terrorism, condolences on sympathies to the victims. So then the foreign ministers spoke," he said. George said that he received several condolences from the Japanese across all levels, and their commitment to the fight against terrorism. "I have received so many condolences messages and support messages from the Japanese at every level, and so it has been a, a period where everyone stood together in their commitment in their determination in the fight against terrorism," he said. George further said that India is the most peaceful country in the world, just as Japan is, and both countries follow the doctrine of nonviolence. He further talked about the Mahatma Gandhi Bust in Hiroshima, which was unveiled by PM Modi on May 20, 2023, to perpetuate the same sentiment. "India is the most peaceful country in the world, and India's connected with Japan. If you travel, you will find that they look at India as the land of Buddha. Lord Buddha is the symbol of non-violence, and again Mahatma Gandhi [echoes similar sentiment]. Last year, during the visit of the honourable Prime Minister to the Hiroshima National Park Peace Park, we installed the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Why? Because he is the icon of peace," he said. George added that India stands for peace in the region. But the enemy had a target to disrupt peace in the region, as normalcy was returning in Jammu and Kashmir. "So India is the land of peace and in Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir, peace had returned, stability was there, democratic government was there, and life was normal. Schools were open, universities were open. Tourism was flourishing. The business-wise life was very normal. That was the time the enemy hit. The enemy hit and purpose was very clear- destroy the progress . Destroy the harmony, religious harmony, communal harmony in India. That was the purpose," he said. George India's message was loud and clear, which is to condemn terrorism, and the entire country had come together for that. "There is no way we are going to let that happen. The whole country has to come together. Members of parliament from different political parties came together with one voice, zero tolerance to terrorism. And the message was loud and clear from the Indian side to our Japanese friends, to the diplomatic community, to the media. They went everywhere with one voice," he said. George said that this was a great achievement as the delegation conveyed its message of strength and determination to destroy terrorism. "This is a great achievement. I see it and you were seeing the interaction today and yesterday at every level. So I think it was a good visit and it helped us, convey our Message loud and clear, our unity, our strength, and our determination to go to any extent in destroying the infrastructure of terrorism," he said. An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by Sanjay Kumar Jha, Member of Parliament, is visiting Japan from May 22 to 24. The delegation includes Ambassador Mohan Kumar, BJP MP Hemang Joshi, CPI(M) MP John Brittas, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, BJP MP Brij Lal, and BJP MP Pradan Baruah.
