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Category: Government of India

  • South Korea: Rival parties clash during confirmation hearing for PM nominee

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    South Korean rival political parties clashed on Wednesday as they disagreed over the eligibility of Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok during the second and final day of his confirmation hearings. 

     

    The main opposition People Power Party demanded the nominee submit evidence to clarify allegations surrounding his wealth and family, while the ruling Democratic Party protested the PPP’s baseless attacks were disrupting a thorough vetting of his abilities.

     

    “The hearing cannot proceed like this,” PPP Rep. Bae June-young, ranking member of the confirmation hearing committee, said, demanding that the nominee submit records of the tax and other payments he claimed to have made the previous day.

     

    Bae also demanded immigration records and a report card proving that Kim did earn a master’s degree at China’s Tsinghua University.

     

    “I will provide what I can and what is necessary,” the nominee answered.

     

    DP Rep. Chai Hyun-il shot back, however, by citing the cases of former prime ministers under PPP-affiliated administrations, such as Han Duck-soo, Hwang Kyo-ahn and Chung Hong-won, saying various documents went unsubmitted during their confirmation hearings.

     

    “Was it an invasion of privacy then but vetting now?” he protested.

     

    The prime minister is the only Cabinet position that requires parliamentary consent for appointment. Other minister nominees undergo the confirmation process, but consent is not necessary for their appointment by the president.

     

    The PPP is unlikely to agree to adopting a report, which is a step in the confirmation process, as it has consistently questioned Kim’s eligibility and demanded his withdrawal.

     

    During the first day of hearings Tuesday, the PPP grilled the nominee over the source of his income amid large differences between his reported wealth and spending, as well as allegations surrounding his son’s college admissions and his own studies at Tsinghua University, Yonhap news agency reported.

     

    The DP defended the nominee while highlighting his professional aptitude to serve in the number 2 government role.

     

    The motion for a prime minister’s confirmation passes by majority approval, with a majority of lawmakers present.

     

    The DP can single-handedly pass Kim’s motion as it currently holds a parliamentary majority with 167 out of 298 seats.

    Kim, a four-term lawmaker of the DP and a former top campaign aide to President Lee Jae Myung, shared his thoughts on some of Lee’s campaign pledges, such as a 4.5-day workweek.

    “The overall direction was proposed, and the execution plans have to be discussed additionally,” he said. “Reducing the number of working days can be considered in line with global trends and human nature.”

    On the pledge to raise the retirement age, Kim said it is a matter requiring comprehensive discussions and social acceptance.

    “If I become prime minister, I think it could be worth commissioning a full-scale study by a state-run think tank,” he said.

    The PPP has called for extending the hearings by a day to better vet the nominee, while the DP has maintained they should be completed on Wednesday before finalising the confirmation next week.

    –IANS

  • Trump says damage from Iran strikes severe despite “inconclusive” intelligence

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the damage to Iranian nuclear sites from missile strikes over the weekendwas severe, though he also acknowledged that the available intelligence on the matter was inconclusive.

    His comments followed reports by Reuters and other media outlets on Tuesday revealing that the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency had assessed that the strikes had set back Iran’s nuclear program by just a few months, despite administration officials saying the program had been obliterated.

    “The intelligence was very inconclusive,” Trump told reporters before joining a NATO summit in The Hague. “The intelligence says we don’t know. It could’ve been very severe. That’s what the intelligence suggests.”

    Later, during the same round of comments, Trump argued that Iran’s nuclear deal had been set back “basically decades, because I don’t think they’ll ever do it again”.

    Trump was sitting alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who both also cast doubt on the reliability of the DIA assessment.

    Rubio said the U.S. was opening an investigation into the leak of the DIA report. He also suggested the report’s contents had been misrepresented in the media.

    (Reuters)

  • Pant, Duckett hit career-highs in latest ICC Test rankings

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s Rishabh Pant and England’s Ben Duckett have achieved career-best ratings in the latest ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings following their impressive performances with the bat in the first Test at Headingley, according to the official ICC website.

    Pant became just the second wicket-keeper after Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower to score two centuries in the same Test match, scoring 134 and 118 in the thrilling Leeds contest that England won by five wickets. He earned a career-best rating, moving up one spot to seventh overall in the Test batting rankings.

    Duckett claimed Player of the Match honors for his innings of 62 and 149, also achieving a new career-best rating by jumping five places to eighth in the updated Test batting rankings.

    Duckett’s England teammates Ollie Pope (up three spots to 19th) and Jamie Smith (up eight places to 27th) also gained ground in this week’s rankings update. Meanwhile, India captain Shubman Gill moved up five spots to 20th overall after his century in the first innings of the match.

    England veteran Joe Root remains the No.1-ranked Test batter, with teammate Harry Brook his closest challenger.

     

    The drawn first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also saw a host of players improve their positions in the batting rankings, with Mushfiqur Rahim leading the way after his innings of 163 in Galle.

    Rahim gained 11 spots to reach 28th among Test batters, while teammate Najmul Hossain Shanto surged 21 places to 29th after scoring two centuries in the same match.

    There was little change in the latest Test bowlers’ rankings, with India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah maintaining his top position after another five-wicket haul in the Headingley Test.

    There was also joy for England captain Ben Stokes, who gained three spots to move up to fifth in the Test all-rounder rankings, following his strong contributions with both bat and ball in the same Test.

    Changes were also seen in the latest T20I rankings after the completion of the tri-series between Scotland, Nepal, and the Netherlands, which the hosts won in Glasgow.

    Netherlands’ dasher Michael Levitt rose 16 spots to 14th, and Scotland all-rounder Brandon McMullen moved up 20 places to joint-38th on the latest T20I batters list, while spinner Mark Watt climbed two spots to 38th in the T20I bowlers’ rankings.

    Nepal spinner Lalit Rajbanshi also made notable progress, jumping 29 places to 54th following his four wickets in the tri-series. 

    (ANI)

  • Returning to Iranian sites is top priority: IAEA chief

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday his top priority is getting his inspectors back to Iran’s nuclear facilities to assess the impact of U.S. and Israeli military strikes and verify its stocks of enriched uranium.

    “This is the number 1 priority,” International Atomic Energy Agency chief Grossi told a news conference at an Austrian security cabinet meeting. He is seeking his inspectors’ return to Iranian sites including the three plants where it was enriching uranium until Israel launched strikes on June 13.

    Asked if Iran had informed him of the status of its stocks of enriched uranium, particularly its uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, close to weapons grade, he pointed to a letter he received from Iran on June 13, saying Iran would take “special measures” to protect its nuclear materials and equipment.

    “They did not get into details as to what that meant but clearly that was the implicit meaning of that. We can imagine this material is there,” Grossi said, suggesting much of that material had survived the attacks.

    (Reuters)

  • Iranian parliament approves bill to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran’s parliament approved a bill on Wednesday to suspend cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, state-affiliated news outlet Nournews reported.

    The move, which needs the final approval of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to be enforced according to Nournews, follows an air war with Israel in which its longtime enemy said it wanted to prevent Tehran developing a nuclear weapon.

    Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf was quoted by state media as also saying Iran would accelerate its civilian nuclear programme.

    Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons and says a resolution adopted this month by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations paved the way for Israel’s attacks.

    The parliament speaker was quoted as saying the IAEA had refused even to appear to condemn the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities and “has put its international credibility up for sale.”

    He said that “for this reason, the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran will suspend its cooperation with the Agency until the security of the nuclear facilities is guaranteed, and move at a faster pace with the country’s peaceful nuclear programme.”

    Earlier this week, parliament’s national security committee approved the bill’s general outline and the committee’s spokesperson, Ebrahim Rezaei, said the bill would suspend the installation of surveillance cameras, inspections and filing of reports to the IAEA.

    Following the Israeli attacks on its nuclear sites, and U.S. bombing of underground Iranian nuclear facilities at the weekend, the Iranian government also faces calls to limit the country’s commitments to the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

    In an interview with Qatar’s Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said: “I think that our view on our nuclear programme and the non-proliferation regime will witness changes, but it is not possible to say in what direction.”

    (Reuters)

  • Nefarious attempt to strangle Indian democracy: Rajnath Singh on 50 years of Emergency

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that 50 years ago, a nefarious attempt was made to strangle Indian democracy with the imposition of the Emergency, during which civil liberties were suspended and opposition leaders were jailed under the rule of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

    In a post on X, he called the Emergency “the darkest chapter in Indian democracy”, while paying tribute to those who resisted the authoritarian rule.

    “Fifty years ago today, a nefarious attempt was made to strangle Indian democracy through the imposition of the Emergency. People still remember the Emergency as the darkest chapter in Indian democracy. Sidelining the Constitution, the manner in which the Emergency was imposed on the country is a glaring example of the misuse of power and dictatorship. All opposition leaders were sent to jail. There was no constitutional institution left that was not misused. Yet, the democratic traditions of this country could not be erased by the then government, no matter how much they tried,” said Rajnath.

    The Union Minister also highlighted the role of those who fought against the Emergency.

    “Today, democracy is alive in India, and for this, those who struggled during the Emergency, endured imprisonment, and suffered hardships have made an immense contribution. The future generations of India will never forget their contribution. Prime Minister Shri Modiji has decided to observe June 25 as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ so that every citizen remembers how dictatorship attempts to murder democracy,” he added.

    In 2024, the Government of India officially notified June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas marking the imposition of Emergency in the country in 1975.

    To mark what it calls a moment of serious institutional breakdown in India’s democratic journey, the BJP has planned extensive outreach programmes at the booth and district levels. The aim, according to BJP leaders, is to educate the younger generation about the consequences of authoritarianism and the importance of preserving democratic values.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Emergency black chapter in India’s democracy, Cong still carries dictatorial mindset: JP Nadda

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister and BJP National President J.P. Nadda on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of continuing to carry the same “dictatorial mindset” that, according to him, marked the 21-month Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.

    Calling the period a “black chapter” in India’s democratic journey, Nadda said the events of that era remain a stark reminder of how democratic institutions were “subverted” under Congress rule.

    Recounting the events of June 25, 1975, Nadda said, “India is the oldest and largest democratic country in the world. Some such incidents have also happened in the country where a malicious attempt has been made to tamper with the basic spirit of the Constitution. The country sees it as a black chapter in democracy. On this day, 50 years ago, the then Prime Minister (of Congress), Indira Gandhi, had declared Emergency, which was not just a political event but a direct attack on democracy. It was a blow.”

    Referring to the midnight proclamation of Emergency by Indira Gandhi, Nadda alleged, “On the midnight of June 25, 1975, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency on India on the pretext of internal unrest and murdered the Constitution of the country. Even after 50 years, Congress is living with the same mentality. Its intentions are still the same, dictatorial.”

    Nadda noted that the Emergency followed a court verdict against Indira Gandhi.

    “In 1975, the High Court held Indira Gandhi guilty of violating the code of conduct in the elections and declared her ineligible to hold any elected post for six years. Overnight, the electricity to the press was cut off. The entire opposition was put in jail. Freedom of the press was taken away. Democracy was trampled by misusing Article 352. Parliament and judiciary were paralysed and on the morning of June 26, the dictatorial government of Congress imposed Emergency on the country,” he stated.

    Calling the resistance against the Emergency a broader fight for the soul of the nation, Nadda said, “The opposition to the dictatorship of Congress was not merely political. It was a movement to protect the soul of India and the Constitution in which nationalists put their lives at stake. Jai Prakash Narayan and Chaudhary Charan Singh, as well as Atal ji, Advani ji, Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, Murli Manohar Joshi, and thousands of party workers and ‘Vichar Parivar’ workers were forcibly put in jail by Indira Gandhi’s government.”

    He also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s contribution during that period and said, “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a responsible worker, threw dust in the eyes of the dictatorial government and with the help of lakhs of dedicated volunteer workers, took the truth of Congress to every village, every street and every house.”

    He mentioned that PM Modi has recorded the “struggles and unheard incidents” of that time in his book ‘The Emergency Diaries, Years that Forced a Leader’.

    Reflecting on the current political context, the BJP chief added, “In the 50 years of the murder of the Constitution in the country, it is necessary to remember and remind people of the pain of the Emergency. Because even today, Congress is living with the same dictatorial mindset. We all must read this book to know how Congress had conspired to crush the democracy of the country. How the worshippers of democracy, without caring for their lives, foiled this conspiracy of Congress by highlighting the struggle.”

    Nadda criticised the Congress leadership’s approach to governance and press freedom. “Slogans like ‘India is Indira, Indira is India’, reflected the mindset of Congress under which Indira Gandhi had turned the country into a laboratory of individualism and dynasty.”

    He said that Congress supports the idea of only one family ruling the country, and that is why it had “placed a super PM above the Prime Minister of its government.”

    “Congress is not able to digest the fact that a poor person has become the Prime Minister of the country. The law and order situation in Congress-ruled states is the same today as it was during the Emergency. Suppression of opposition, religious appeasement and arrogance of power are openly visible,” he added.

    Referring to the judiciary, Nadda said, “Indira Gandhi did not make an honest judge like Justice H.R. Khanna the Chief Justice, despite him being senior. Because he had made a decision against the government. Congress had ensured that any officer or judge who did not follow their orders should either be removed or transferred. Indira Gandhi changed the basic spirit of the Constitution by making anti-democratic amendments in the Constitution to keep her power safe.”

    Highlighting the repression during the Emergency, he added, “During the Emergency, even if a citizen was shot, he did not have the right to go to court. Even today, Rahul and Congress are seen to be lying about the Constitution. During the Emergency, people imprisoned were not even allowed to attend the last rites of their relatives. Congress has never apologised for its actions during the Emergency to date.”

    Nadda also cited Congress’ conduct ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the party had officially issued a list of “boycotted journalists” whose debates the party spokespersons were “forbidden from attending.”

    “On one hand, they file cases against journalists during their rule, while on the other hand, they boycott them when they are in the opposition,” he said.

    Concluding his remarks, Nadda paid tribute to those who resisted the Emergency, stating, “Today, on this occasion, I pay tribute, on my behalf and on behalf of crores of Bharatiya Janata Party workers, to the true soldiers of democracy who risked their lives to free the country from the curse of Emergency, and thank them for protecting the Constitution and the country.”

    (IANS)

     

  • PM Modi hails successful launch of space mission with astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and US

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed the successful launch of the space mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the United States. He also extended his best wishes to Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is set to become the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).

    PM Modi said on X: “We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!”

    The Axiom 4 Mission (AX-4) was launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 2:31 am Eastern Time (12:01pm IST).

    “Liftoff for #Ax4. The #Ax4 crew is on its way to the space station,” said the US-based Axiom Space, which has, in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, organised the mission.

    “Liftoff of Ax-4!” added SpaceX.

    The lift-off comes after being deferred at least six times.

    In his remarks from onboard the Dragon spacecraft, Shukla said, “Namaskar, my dear countrymen, what a ride. We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It’s an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India’s Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride. You all also show excitement. Together, let’s initiate India’s Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”

    “India is returning to space, Jai Hind,” Shukla wrote on X, just before the launch of the mission.

    “After 41 years, India’s flag will fly in space again,” he added.

    Earlier, Shukla also penned an emotional note for his wife.

    “Special thanks to Kamna for being the wonderful partner that you are. Without you none of this was possible but more importantly none of this would matter,” said Shukla, in a post on Instagram.

    He shared a photograph that shows them saying goodbye through opposite sides of a glass wall.

    Shukla also thanked people “involved in this mission for their support”.

    For Group Captain Shukla, this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Sharma spent seven days in space on board the Salyut 7 space station.

    This is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The crew is travelling to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am Eastern Time (4 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26.

    (With agency inputs)

  • Govt to mark Anti-Drug Day on June 26 with nationwide campaigns

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) will commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26. A central event will be held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, with Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, B.L. Verma, attending as the Chief Guest.

    The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), the nodal agency for drug demand reduction in India, has been spearheading efforts to prevent drug abuse, assess the extent of substance use, and provide treatment and rehabilitation services. As part of its ongoing mission, the Ministry is implementing the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), an ambitious nationwide campaign to spread awareness about the harmful effects of substance abuse.

    The NMBA, currently operational across all districts of India, focuses particularly on youth, with outreach efforts targeting universities, colleges, schools, and communities. The objective is to transform the campaign into a Jan Andolan—a people’s movement—through active community involvement and ownership.

    As of June 2025, over 15.78 crore people have been sensitized through NMBA activities, including 5.26 crore youth and 3.31 crore women. More than 4.31 lakh educational institutions have participated in spreading awareness. Additionally, over 20,000 trained Master Volunteers have been deployed to lead these efforts at the grassroots level.

    To support digital outreach, the NMBA maintains active social media accounts and has developed a mobile application available on the Google Play Store. This app allows districts and volunteers to upload real-time data, feeding into a national NMBA dashboard. The official NMBA website (http://nmba.dosje.gov.in) provides comprehensive information, including an e-pledge, online forums, and detailed reports on the campaign’s impact.

    A notable achievement under NMBA has been the National Online Pledge initiative, where more than 1.67 crore students from nearly one lakh educational institutions have pledged to live a drug-free life. The Ministry has also hosted a series of engagement programs such as Nashe se Azaadi – A National Youth and Students Interaction Programme, Naya Bharat, Nasha Mukt Bharat, and special interactions with NCC cadets.

    In collaboration with spiritual and social organizations—including The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, Ram Chandra Mission (Daaji), ISKCON, and All World Gayatri Parivaar—the Ministry has expanded the campaign’s reach through mass awareness events.

    To enhance public access to services, all government-supported de-addiction centers have been geo-tagged.

    Substance use and dependence remain critical public health challenges that impact not just individuals but also families and communities. The misuse of psychoactive substances often leads to serious health conditions including neuropsychiatric disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and increased risk of accidents, suicides, and violence. The Ministry emphasizes that substance use should be approached as a psycho-social-medical issue requiring coordinated and compassionate intervention.

    To mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, all States and Union Territories, along with NGOs and Voluntary Organizations supported under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), have been directed to organize awareness programmes from June 1 to June 26.

  • India back in space after 41 years, says Shubhanshu Shukla after Axiom 4 lift-off

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is piloting the Axiom-4 mission that launched from Florida on Wednesday, said that India is returning to space after 41 years and called it an “amazing ride.” Stating that the journey is the beginning of India’s human space programme, he said the chest of Indians “should swell with pride.”

    The Axiom Mission 4 of Ax-4, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 2:31 am Eastern Time (12 Noon IST).

    “Liftoff for #Ax4. The #Ax4 crew is on its way to the space station,” said the US-based Axiom Space, which has, in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, organised the mission.

    “Liftoff of Ax-4!” added SpaceX.

    The lift-off comes after being deferred at least six times.

    In his remarks from onboard the Dragon spacecraft, Shukla said, “Namaskar, my dear countrymen, what a ride. We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It’s an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India’s Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride. You all also show excitement. Together, let’s initiate India’s Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”

    “India is returning to space, Jai Hind,” Shukla wrote on X, just before the launch of the mission.

    “After 41 years, India’s flag will fly in space again,” he added.

    Earlier, Shukla also penned an emotional note for his wife.

    “Special thanks to Kamna for being the wonderful partner that you are. Without you none of this was possible but more importantly none of this would matter,” said Shukla, in a post on Instagram.

    He shared a photograph that shows them saying goodbye through opposite sides of a glass wall.

    Shukla also thanked people “involved in this mission for their support”.

    For Group Captain Shukla, this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Sharma spent seven days in space on board the Salyut 7 space station.

    This is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The crew is travelling to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am Eastern Time (4 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26.

    Once docked, the astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprised of science, outreach, and commercial activities. Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, is in command of the mission, while Indian Space Research Organisation Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla serves as pilot.

    The two mission specialists are European Space Agency project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The astronauts are using the new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit which provides them with advanced capabilities for space exploration while providing NASA with commercially developed human systems needed to access, live and work on and around the Moon.

    The advanced spacesuits ensure astronauts are equipped with high-performing, robust equipment and are designed to accommodate a wide range of crew members. The Ax-4 mission is going to conduct major research. The research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.

    This will be the most research and science-related activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the International Space Station to date NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) are collaborating to launch several scientific investigations.

    These studies include examining muscle regeneration, growth of sprouts and edible microalgae, survival of tiny aquatic organisms, and human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity. The first private astronaut mission to the station, Axiom Mission 1, lifted off in April 2022 for a 17-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

    The second private astronaut mission to the station, Axiom Mission 2, was also commanded by Whitson and launched in May 2023 with four private astronauts who spent eight days in orbit. The most recent private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 3, launched in January 2024; the crew spent 18 days docked to the space station.

    (With agency inputs)

  • Roston Chase ready to lead much-changed West Indies as Australia look to the future

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Change will be a key theme for both the West Indies and Australia in their upcoming three-test series in the Caribbean with the visitors set to field a remodelled batting line-up and the hosts being led out for the first time by Roston Chase.

    Pat Cummins suggested Australia were due a top-order reset after their loss to South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final earlier this month and the skipper said their line-up to face West Indies shows they are looking to the future.

    Australia have brought in teenager Sam Konstas to open the batting with Usman Khawaja and added Josh Inglis to the line-up, while they will be without the dropped Marnus Labuschagne and injured veteran Steve Smith for a series which marks the start of both teams’ new WTC cycle.

    Both Konstas and Inglis have played only two tests, the former opening the batting against India in Melbourne and Sydney last season, and the latter batting in the middle order in Sri Lanka earlier this year.

    Australia could lose as many as half a dozen test regulars to retirement after this year’s Ashes series with the likes of Khawaja, Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all in their mid to late 30s.

    When asked about the changes ahead of the first match beginning in Bridgetown later on Wednesday, Cummins told reporters: “You look forward to what the next couple of years are going to look like.

    “I think part of that’s a keenness to get Sam and Josh into the squad, into the playing 11. You start looking at what the batting order might look like for the next couple of years. I think that’s part of the reset.

    “And your goals change a little bit obviously. We’re starting on zero points, so it’s a bit of a mental reset. You block out the last couple of years and then start again.”

    Cameron Green has retained his place at number three despite scoring only four runs and facing just five balls in the WTC final, with Cummins saying he viewed the 26-year-old all-rounder as a long-term option in the slot.

    “He had a test match where it obviously didn’t go to plan,” he added.

    “Think he only faced three or four balls, so the message is not to look into that too much. We’re really happy with where his game’s placed and I dare say we’ll get a decent run of number three.”

    SCARS

    Spin-bowling all-rounder Chase, who last played a test match in March 2023, will have his work cut out for him as he takes charge of a much-changed West Indies side who finished second bottom in the previous WTC cycle.

    “You can expect positive cricket from us,” Chase, who succeeded Kraigg Brathwaite as captain in May, told reporters.

    “We’re looking to play with a bit more flair and bring back that Caribbean style to the game, and we’re looking forward to making the Caribbean nation proud.

    “It’s still test cricket, so you still have to have some type of patience, so it’ll (be on) the guys to mix their aggression with that patience.”

    The sides last met in a two-test series in January 2024 which ended all square after West Indies claimed a shock eight-run victory in the second test in Brisbane – their first test win over Australia since 2003.

    “I hope there are some scars,” Chase said.

    “If they’re still thinking about that match going out there on Wednesday, that would be very good for us – that will be part of the job done for us.”

    (Reuters)

  • Roston Chase ready to lead much-changed West Indies as Australia look to the future

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Change will be a key theme for both the West Indies and Australia in their upcoming three-test series in the Caribbean with the visitors set to field a remodelled batting line-up and the hosts being led out for the first time by Roston Chase.

    Pat Cummins suggested Australia were due a top-order reset after their loss to South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final earlier this month and the skipper said their line-up to face West Indies shows they are looking to the future.

    Australia have brought in teenager Sam Konstas to open the batting with Usman Khawaja and added Josh Inglis to the line-up, while they will be without the dropped Marnus Labuschagne and injured veteran Steve Smith for a series which marks the start of both teams’ new WTC cycle.

    Both Konstas and Inglis have played only two tests, the former opening the batting against India in Melbourne and Sydney last season, and the latter batting in the middle order in Sri Lanka earlier this year.

    Australia could lose as many as half a dozen test regulars to retirement after this year’s Ashes series with the likes of Khawaja, Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all in their mid to late 30s.

    When asked about the changes ahead of the first match beginning in Bridgetown later on Wednesday, Cummins told reporters: “You look forward to what the next couple of years are going to look like.

    “I think part of that’s a keenness to get Sam and Josh into the squad, into the playing 11. You start looking at what the batting order might look like for the next couple of years. I think that’s part of the reset.

    “And your goals change a little bit obviously. We’re starting on zero points, so it’s a bit of a mental reset. You block out the last couple of years and then start again.”

    Cameron Green has retained his place at number three despite scoring only four runs and facing just five balls in the WTC final, with Cummins saying he viewed the 26-year-old all-rounder as a long-term option in the slot.

    “He had a test match where it obviously didn’t go to plan,” he added.

    “Think he only faced three or four balls, so the message is not to look into that too much. We’re really happy with where his game’s placed and I dare say we’ll get a decent run of number three.”

    SCARS

    Spin-bowling all-rounder Chase, who last played a test match in March 2023, will have his work cut out for him as he takes charge of a much-changed West Indies side who finished second bottom in the previous WTC cycle.

    “You can expect positive cricket from us,” Chase, who succeeded Kraigg Brathwaite as captain in May, told reporters.

    “We’re looking to play with a bit more flair and bring back that Caribbean style to the game, and we’re looking forward to making the Caribbean nation proud.

    “It’s still test cricket, so you still have to have some type of patience, so it’ll (be on) the guys to mix their aggression with that patience.”

    The sides last met in a two-test series in January 2024 which ended all square after West Indies claimed a shock eight-run victory in the second test in Brisbane – their first test win over Australia since 2003.

    “I hope there are some scars,” Chase said.

    “If they’re still thinking about that match going out there on Wednesday, that would be very good for us – that will be part of the job done for us.”

    (Reuters)

  • NATO leaders set to back Trump defence spending goal at Hague summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    NATO leaders gathered in The Hague on Wednesday for a summit tailor-made for U.S. President Donald Trump, with European allies hoping a pledge to hike defence spending will prompt him to dispel doubts about his commitment to the alliance.

    The summit is expected to endorse a higher defence spending goal of 5% of GDP – a response to a demand by Trump and to Europeans’ fears that Russia poses an increasingly direct threat to their security following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

    NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged that it was not easy for countries to find the money for extra defence spending but said it was vital to do so.

    “There is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that given this threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative,” he told reporters on Wednesday morning.

    NATO officials are hoping the conflict between Israel and Iran, and the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites at the weekend, will not overshadow the gathering, hosted by Rutte in his home city.

    Trump has threatened not to protect NATO members if they fail to meet spending targets and he raised doubts about his commitment again on his way to the summit by avoiding directly endorsing the alliance’s Article 5 mutual defence clause.

    Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said there were “numerous definitions” of the clause. “I’m committed to saving lives. I’m committed to life and safety. And I’m going to give you an exact definition when I get there,” he said.

    The new target – to be achieved over the next 10 years – is a big increase on the current goal of 2% of GDP, although it will be measured differently. It would amount to hundreds of billions of dollars in extra annual spending.

    Countries would spend 3.5% of GDP on core defence – such as troops and weapons – and 1.5% on broader defence-related measures such as cyber security, protecting pipelines and adapting roads and bridges to handle military vehicles.

    All NATO members have backed a statement enshrining the target, although Spain declared it does not need to meet the goal. Madrid says it can meet its military commitments to NATO by spending much less – a view disputed by Rutte.

    But Rutte accepted a diplomatic fudge with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as part of his intense efforts to give Trump a diplomatic victory and make the summit go smoothly.

    UNUSUAL INSIGHT INTO SUMMIT DIPLOMACY

    Trump gave an unusual insight into those efforts on Tuesday by posting a private message in which Rutte lavished praise on him and congratulated him on “decisive action in Iran”.

    “You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done,” Rutte told Trump.

    “Europe is going to pay in a BIG way as they should, and it will be your win.”

    To satisfy Trump, Rutte has also kept the summit and its final statement short and focused on the spending pledge.

    The text is expected to cite Russia as a threat and reaffirm allies’ support for Ukraine but not dwell on those issues, given Trump has taken a more conciliatory stance towards Moscow and been less supportive of Kyiv than his predecessor, Joe Biden.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had to settle for a seat at the pre-summit dinner on Tuesday evening rather than a seat at the main meeting on Wednesday, although Trump said he would probably meet with Zelenskiy separately.

    Zelenskiy and his aides have said they want to talk to Trump about buying U.S. weapons including Patriot missile defence systems and increasing pressure on Moscow through tougher sanctions.

    The Kremlin accused NATO of being on a path of rampant militarisation and portraying Russia as a “fiend of hell” in order to justify its big increase in defence spending.

    (Reuters)

  • Flamengo happy to progress after 1-1 draw with LA FC

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Misfiring Flamengo were held to a 1-1 draw by Los Angeles FC in their final group match at the Club World Cup on Tuesday but the Brazilian side still go into the knockout stage with some momentum after another strong performance.

    Denis Bouanga put the MLS club ahead in the 84th minute but substitute Wallace Yan responded two minutes later to ensure Flamengo would progress unbeaten to their last-16 tie against Bayern Munich in Miami on Sunday.

    With top spot in Group D already assured, Flamengo coach Filipe Luis made seven changes to his starting side but there was no change to the style that already earned the Rio de Janeiro club wins over Chelsea and Esperance.

    With a little more accuracy in front of goal, they would have comfortably beaten an LA FC side who were already condemned to a group stage exit after losing their first two games without scoring a goal.

    “We had a great group stage,” Felipe Luis told reporters. “We achieved our objective early so we’ve been able to bench players with yellow cards and give minutes to players that hadn’t played yet.

    “We had rhythm and we had chances to score. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. We are very happy, no injuries and a great group stage, and now we’re thinking about Bayern and nothing but Bayern.”

    Bouanga had ploughed a lonely furrow as the lone striker all evening but pounced when his chance came from Tom Tillman’s quickly taken free kick, slotting the ball between the legs of Agustin Rossi for his team’s first goal of the tournament.

    The Flamengo fans were silenced but Jorginho, who had come on as a substitute only minutes before Bouanga’s goal, found Yan with an incisive pass and the 20-year-old skipped into the box through four defenders and slid the ball past Hugo Lloris.

    The woodwork played more of a role than either goalkeeper in the first half with Flamengo’s Danilo, Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Pedro all hitting the frame of the goal along with LA FC’s Marky Delgado.

    Flamengo continued to dominate possession with their calm passing game in the second half and it looked only a matter of time before the breakthrough came.

    Lloris, however, pulled off a world-class save to deny Everton, Pedro sent the ball over the bar with an acrobatic bicycle kick, and de Arrascaeta hit the woodwork for the second time with a rasping shot that came down off the bar.

    (Reuters)

  • China, Taiwan clash over history, Beijing says can’t ‘invade’ what is already Chinese territory

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    China and Taiwan clashed over their competing interpretations of history in an escalating war of words over what Beijing views as provocations from Taiwan’s government, and said it is impossible to “invade” what is already Chinese land.

    China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has stepped up military and political pressure over the past five years. China has an especial dislike of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, calling him a “separatist”.

    Lai has since Sunday given two speeches in what will be a series of 10 on “uniting the country”, saying that Taiwan is “of course a country” and China has no legal or historical right to claim it.

    Speaking on Wednesday at a regular news briefing in Beijing, Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said any “independence provocations” from Lai and his administration will face “resolute countermeasures”.

    “Though the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have not yet been fully reunified, the historical and legal fact that compatriots on both sides belong to one China and that both sides’ compatriots are Chinese has never changed,” she said.

    Tensions between China and Taiwan, including several rounds of Chinese war games, have raised the possibility Beijing may one day make good on threats to take Taiwan by force which could ignite a regional war.

    China’s last war games were in April, and its air force and navy operate around Taiwan on a daily basis, sometimes using dozens of warplanes, according to the island’s defence ministry.

    Asked about U.S. comments on Chinese drills strengthening preparations for an attack, Zhu corrected the reporter.

    “Taiwan is a part of China; there is no invasion to speak of,” she said.

    Lai takes a different view on Taiwan’s status and future.

    In a speech late on Tuesday, he said Taiwan’s future can only be decided by its people, democratically, not by a decision by any party or president, and that “Taiwan independence” refers to the island not being a part of the People’s Republic of China.

    The defeated Republic of China, founded after the 1911 revolution that brought down the last emperor, fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists, and that remains the island’s formal name.

    “How old is the Republic of China? It’s 113 years old, and will be 114 years old this year. The People’s Republic of China? It’s only some 70 years old, right? It’s simple and clear,” Lai said.

    This year’s 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two is another sensitive topic, and China has invited old soldiers who fought for the Republic of China to a military parade in Beijing in early September.

    Taiwan does not want them to attend, and on Wednesday its defence minister, Wellington Koo, said Beijing was trying to distort history.

    “The war of resistance was led and won by the Republic of China, not the People’s Republic of China – this is without a doubt,” he told reporters at parliament.

    (Reuters)

  • Boca Juniors draw with Auckland City, exit Club World Cup

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Boca Juniors were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by amateurs Auckland City and failed to reach the knockout stage of the Club World Cup on Tuesday in steamy Nashville, Tennessee, where the match was suspended for nearly 50 minutes due to stormy weather.

    Argentine side Boca came into the game needing both a convincing win against already-eliminated Auckland City to overturn a seven-goal difference with Benfica and for the Portuguese club to lose to German champions Bayern Munich in the other Group C fixture.

    Auckland City had just drawn level shortly after the break when lightning in the area forced players off the field. By the time play resumed, Benfica had secured a 1-0 win to qualify top of Group C and reach the last 16 along with Bayern.

    Boca went ahead in the 26th minute when Lautaro Di Lollo received a well-delivered corner and headed it against the post before the ball bounced off Auckland City goalkeeper Nathan Garrow’s arm and into the net for an own goal.

    Auckland scored their first goal of the tournament in the 52nd minute when Christian Gray sent a header inside the right post and past an outstretched Agustin Marchesin moments before play was suspended.

    “Scoring that goal was just surreal. It probably hasn’t sunk in yet. I think the club deserved it, and I’m happy for the boys,” Grey, who is a physical education teacher back in New Zealand, said.

    Boca thought they had pulled back in front shortly after the restart but a VAR decision overturned Miguel Merentiel’s goal due to a handball by teammate Kevin Zenon.

    Boca finished third in the group with two points, one more than Auckland City who also exited the Club World Cup.

    “It was difficult to find spaces because they defended well – that was their objective. They never gave up, and we couldn’t increase our lead. The climate conditions were tough – it was really hot – and then when they equalised, they gained new strength,” Boca forward Edinson Cavani said.

    FIFA President Gianni Infantino was among those at the game where temperatures at kickoff were around 96 degrees Fahrenheit (35.5 degrees Celsius).

    The steamy conditions did little to dampen the spirits of the passionate Boca supporters who spent the duration of the match singing to the beat of drums, including during the weather delay when many refused calls to head to the concourse.

    “Thanks to all the fans that came here and support us the way they do back home,” Boca coach Miguel Angel Russo said.

    “Until their goal, the game was all ours. Boca’s image after this last game is not good. This is the third set-piece goal we’ve conceded, there’s a lot to correct,” the manager added.

    (Reuters)

  • Axiom 4: Astronauts from India, Poland, Hungary launched on first space station mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    NASA retiree turned private astronaut Peggy Whitson was launched on the fifth spaceflight of her career early on Wednesday, joined by crewmates from India, Poland and Hungary heading for their countries’ first visit to the International Space Station.

    The astronaut team lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at about 2:30 a.m. EDT (0630 GMT; 12 Noon IST)), beginning the latest mission organized by Texas-based startup Axiom Space in partnership with Elon Musk’s rocket venture SpaceX.

    The four-member crew was carried aloft on a towering SpaceX launch vehicle consisting of a Crew Dragon capsule perched atop a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket.

    Live video showed the towering spacecraft streaking into the night sky over Florida’s Atlantic coast trailed by a brilliant yellowish plume of fiery exhaust.

    It marked the first Crew Dragon flight since Musk briefly threatened to decommission the spacecraft after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cancel Musk’s government contracts in a high-profile political feud between the two men earlier this month.

    Axiom 4’s autonomously operated Crew Dragon was expected to reach the ISS after a flight of about 28 hours, then dock with the outpost as the two vehicles soar together in orbit some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

    If all goes according to plan, the Axiom 4 crew will be welcomed aboard the orbiting space laboratory Thursday morning by its seven current resident occupants – three astronauts from the U.S., one from Japan and three cosmonauts from Russia.

    Whitson, 65, and her three Axiom 4 crewmates – Shubhanshu Shukla, 39, of India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, 41, of Poland, and Tibor Kapu, 33, of Hungary – are slated to spend 14 days aboard the space station conducting microgravity research.

    The mission stands as the fourth such flight since 2022 arranged by Axiom as the Houston-headquartered company builds on its business of putting astronauts sponsored by private companies and foreign governments into Earth orbit.

    For India, Poland and Hungary, the launch marked a return to human spaceflight after more than 40 years and the first mission to send astronauts from each of those three countries to the International Space Station.

    The Axiom 4 participation of Shukla, an Indian air force pilot, is seen by India’s own space program as a kind of precursor to the debut crewed mission of its Gaganyaan orbital spacecraft, planned for 2027.

    The Axiom 4 crew is led by Whitson, who retired from NASA in 2018 after a pioneering career that included her tenure as the first woman to serve as the U.S. space agency’s chief astronaut. She also was the first woman to command an ISS expedition and the first to do so twice.

    Now a consultant and director of human spaceflight for Axiom, she has logged a career total of 675 days in space, a U.S. record, during three NASA missions and a fourth flight to space as commander of the Axiom 2 mission in 2023.

    The Axiom 4 mission was previously scheduled for liftoff on Tuesday before a forecast of unsuitable weather forced a 24-hour postponement.

    (Reuters)

  • Tesla’s European sales slump for fifth month as EV rivals gain momentum

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Tesla’s new car sales in Europe fell 27.9% in May from a year earlier even as fully-electric vehicle sales in the region jumped 27.2%, with the U.S. EV maker’s revised Model Y yet to show signs of reviving the brand’s fortunes.

    Overall car sales in Europe rose 1.9%, with the strongest growth coming from plug-in hybrids and cars powered by alternative fuels, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showed.

    WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

    Tesla’s European sales have now fallen for five straight months as customers switch to cheaper Chinese EVs and, in some cases, protest against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s politics.

    Tesla’s European market share dropped to just 1.2% in May from 1.8% a year ago.

    The revised Model Y is meant to revamp the company’s ageing model range as traditional automakers and Chinese rivals launch EVs at a rapid pace amid trade tensions.

    BY THE NUMBERS

    May new car sales in the European Union, Britain and the European Free Trade Association rose to 1.11 million vehicles, following a 0.3% dip in April, ACEA data showed.

    Registrations at Chinese state-owned SAIC Motor and Germany’s BMW rose 22.5% and 5.6% respectively, while they fell 23% at Japan’s Mazda.

    In the EU alone, total car sales have fallen 0.6% so far this year.

    That comes despite growing demand for EVs, with registrations of battery-electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid-electric (HEV) cars rising 26.1%, 15% and 19.8% respectively.

    EU sales of BEVs, HEVs and PHEVs combined accounted for 58.9% of passenger car registrations in May, up from 48.9% in May 2024.

    Among the largest EU markets, new car sales in Spain and Germany rose 18.6% and 1.2% respectively, while in France and Italy they dropped by 12.3% and 0.1%.

    In Britain, registrations were up 1.6%.

    (Reuters)

  • Tesla’s European sales slump for fifth month as EV rivals gain momentum

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Tesla’s new car sales in Europe fell 27.9% in May from a year earlier even as fully-electric vehicle sales in the region jumped 27.2%, with the U.S. EV maker’s revised Model Y yet to show signs of reviving the brand’s fortunes.

    Overall car sales in Europe rose 1.9%, with the strongest growth coming from plug-in hybrids and cars powered by alternative fuels, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showed.

    WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

    Tesla’s European sales have now fallen for five straight months as customers switch to cheaper Chinese EVs and, in some cases, protest against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s politics.

    Tesla’s European market share dropped to just 1.2% in May from 1.8% a year ago.

    The revised Model Y is meant to revamp the company’s ageing model range as traditional automakers and Chinese rivals launch EVs at a rapid pace amid trade tensions.

    BY THE NUMBERS

    May new car sales in the European Union, Britain and the European Free Trade Association rose to 1.11 million vehicles, following a 0.3% dip in April, ACEA data showed.

    Registrations at Chinese state-owned SAIC Motor and Germany’s BMW rose 22.5% and 5.6% respectively, while they fell 23% at Japan’s Mazda.

    In the EU alone, total car sales have fallen 0.6% so far this year.

    That comes despite growing demand for EVs, with registrations of battery-electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid-electric (HEV) cars rising 26.1%, 15% and 19.8% respectively.

    EU sales of BEVs, HEVs and PHEVs combined accounted for 58.9% of passenger car registrations in May, up from 48.9% in May 2024.

    Among the largest EU markets, new car sales in Spain and Germany rose 18.6% and 1.2% respectively, while in France and Italy they dropped by 12.3% and 0.1%.

    In Britain, registrations were up 1.6%.

    (Reuters)

  • ‘The Emergency Diaries’ chronicles my journey during Emergency: PM Modi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he was glad that his experiences during the anti-Emergency movement have been compiled into a new book titled ‘The Emergency Diaries — Years that Forged a Leader’, which will be released by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency’s imposition.

    The book, published by Bluekraft Digital Foundation, explores Narendra Modi’s journey as a young Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak during one of India’s most turbulent political periods.

    It sheds light on how he evaded the police, worked underground, and took part in the covert resistance to what has been described as a draconian crackdown on civil liberties and democratic institutions under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s rule from 1975 to 1977.

    Taking to X on Wednesday, PM Modi wrote, “When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum.”

    “I am glad that BlueKraft Digital Foundation has compiled some of those experiences in the form of a book, whose foreword has been penned by Shri H.D. Deve Gowda Ji, himself a stalwart of the anti-Emergency movement,” he added.

    “‘The Emergency Diaries’ chronicles my journey during the Emergency years. It brought back many memories from that time,” PM Modi said.

    “I call upon all those who remember those dark days of the Emergency or those whose families suffered during that time to share their experiences on social media. It will create awareness among the youth of the shameful time from 1975 to 1977,” he added.

    The publishers announced that the book offers a deep dive into the “compelling role that Narendra Modi, then a young RSS Pracharak, played in the fight against Emergency.”

    Drawing on first-person accounts from his close associates, archival material, and PM Modi’s own memoir ‘Sangharsh Ma Gujarat’, the narrative seeks to bring forth a rare window into how India’s future leader was shaped by those dark days of state repression.

    Bluekraft shared on X, “The book delves into the compelling role that Narendra Modi played in the fight against Emergency. Based on first-person anecdotes from associates who worked with young Modi, and using other archival material, the book is a first of its kind that creates new scholarship on the formative years of a young man who would give it his all in the fight against tyranny.”

    “The Emergency Diaries paints a vivid picture of Narendra Modi fighting for the ideals of democracy and how he has worked all his life to preserve and promote it. This book is a tribute to the grit and resolve of those who refused to be silenced, and it offers a rare glimpse into the early trials that forged one of the most transformative leaders of our time,” it added.

    The book’s introduction paints the backdrop of the Emergency years in stark terms. “In the mid-1970s, as India was caught in the iron shackles of the Emergency, democracy was in captivity,” it reads.

    It presents Narendra Modi as part of a covert network resisting the regime, working to distribute banned literature, organise underground meetings, and sustain public morale amidst widespread censorship and fear.

    According to the publishers, The Emergency Diaries highlights PM Modi’s “clandestine operations, his narrow escapes, and his unwavering commitment to restoring democracy as he navigates through a landscape of fear and repression”.

    The book is described as a “tale of resilience, ingenuity, and relentless dedication to preserving democratic ideals and institutions enshrined in our Constitution”.

    It underscores how, according to the narrative, “the resolve of the masses, led by diligent young karyakartas like Modi, shaped one of the most important movements that reshaped a nation’s destiny.”

    (IANS)

  • ‘The Emergency Diaries’ chronicles my journey during Emergency: PM Modi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he was glad that his experiences during the anti-Emergency movement have been compiled into a new book titled ‘The Emergency Diaries — Years that Forged a Leader’, which will be released by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency’s imposition.

    The book, published by Bluekraft Digital Foundation, explores Narendra Modi’s journey as a young Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak during one of India’s most turbulent political periods.

    It sheds light on how he evaded the police, worked underground, and took part in the covert resistance to what has been described as a draconian crackdown on civil liberties and democratic institutions under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s rule from 1975 to 1977.

    Taking to X on Wednesday, PM Modi wrote, “When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum.”

    “I am glad that BlueKraft Digital Foundation has compiled some of those experiences in the form of a book, whose foreword has been penned by Shri H.D. Deve Gowda Ji, himself a stalwart of the anti-Emergency movement,” he added.

    “‘The Emergency Diaries’ chronicles my journey during the Emergency years. It brought back many memories from that time,” PM Modi said.

    “I call upon all those who remember those dark days of the Emergency or those whose families suffered during that time to share their experiences on social media. It will create awareness among the youth of the shameful time from 1975 to 1977,” he added.

    The publishers announced that the book offers a deep dive into the “compelling role that Narendra Modi, then a young RSS Pracharak, played in the fight against Emergency.”

    Drawing on first-person accounts from his close associates, archival material, and PM Modi’s own memoir ‘Sangharsh Ma Gujarat’, the narrative seeks to bring forth a rare window into how India’s future leader was shaped by those dark days of state repression.

    Bluekraft shared on X, “The book delves into the compelling role that Narendra Modi played in the fight against Emergency. Based on first-person anecdotes from associates who worked with young Modi, and using other archival material, the book is a first of its kind that creates new scholarship on the formative years of a young man who would give it his all in the fight against tyranny.”

    “The Emergency Diaries paints a vivid picture of Narendra Modi fighting for the ideals of democracy and how he has worked all his life to preserve and promote it. This book is a tribute to the grit and resolve of those who refused to be silenced, and it offers a rare glimpse into the early trials that forged one of the most transformative leaders of our time,” it added.

    The book’s introduction paints the backdrop of the Emergency years in stark terms. “In the mid-1970s, as India was caught in the iron shackles of the Emergency, democracy was in captivity,” it reads.

    It presents Narendra Modi as part of a covert network resisting the regime, working to distribute banned literature, organise underground meetings, and sustain public morale amidst widespread censorship and fear.

    According to the publishers, The Emergency Diaries highlights PM Modi’s “clandestine operations, his narrow escapes, and his unwavering commitment to restoring democracy as he navigates through a landscape of fear and repression”.

    The book is described as a “tale of resilience, ingenuity, and relentless dedication to preserving democratic ideals and institutions enshrined in our Constitution”.

    It underscores how, according to the narrative, “the resolve of the masses, led by diligent young karyakartas like Modi, shaped one of the most important movements that reshaped a nation’s destiny.”

    (IANS)

  • India not altering plans to rest Bumrah despite loss to England in 1st Test

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India will continue to prioritise Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness and stick to their plan of playing the pace spearhead in only three out of the five tests against England despite losing the opener by five wickets on Tuesday, head coach Gautam Gambhir said.

    Bumrah, who declined the test captaincy in order to manage his workload after four months out with a back issue, was India’s top bowler with 5-83 in the first innings of the Headingley thriller but went wicketless in the second.

    The 31-year-old’s expected absence in two of the remaining four tests could see India field an inexperienced attack against the hosts’ aggressive batters but Gambhir remained focused on the longer-term picture.

    “For us to manage Bumrah’s workload is more important,” he told reporters. “There’s a lot of cricket going forward and we know what he brings to the table.

    “Before he came on this tour it was already decided that he’s going to play three tests, but let’s see how his body turns up. We haven’t decided which other tests he’s going to play.”

    Seamer Prasidh Krishna took five wickets in the match and leaked runs, while bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur bagged two wickets while contributing only five runs with the bat, but Gambhir backed the under-fire duo.

    “Prasidh bowled really well,” Gambhir said.

    “He got us crucial wickets. We picked him because we thought he’s got something different. He’s got bounce, and in the first innings, he used that really well, even in the second innings. He’ll keep getting better with experience.

    “Shardul was used a little less, but the reason was that Ravindra Jadeja bowled really well, so we thought he’ll give us control. Shardul got us two important wickets. I’m not going to say this guy didn’t bowl well or that guy bowled well.

    “We’ve just got to be more consistent … and these boys will learn.”

    The second test will begin in Birmingham on July 2.

    (Reuters)

  • Looking forward to present India’s vision for global peace, security at SCO meet: Rajnath Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that he is looking forward to present India’s vision for global peace and security and will also call for joint efforts to eliminate terrorism during the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave in Qingdao, China.

    Singh is visiting the port city of Qingdao in eastern Shandong province to attend the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting from June 25–26, where extensive deliberations are expected on the evolving regional security architecture.

    Rajnath Singh said on X: “Today, June 25, I shall be leaving for Qingdao, China, to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting. I will have the opportunity to interact with various Defence Ministers on a wide range of issues. Looking forward to presenting India’s vision for global peace and security, and also, calling for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism.”

    Singh’s visit comes just over a month after Operation Sindoor, under which India conducted targeted airstrikes on nine high-value terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack.

    This marks the first visit to China by an Indian Union Minister since bilateral relations were severely strained by the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh beginning in May 2020.

    Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is also in China for a meeting of SCO national security advisors.

    According to an official readout, Defence Minister Singh will reaffirm India’s commitment to the SCO’s core principles and objectives, while outlining New Delhi’s vision for enhanced regional cooperation to counter terrorism and extremism.

    In addition to addressing the plenary session, Singh is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from several participating nations, including China and Russia.

    The Ministry of Defence said: “India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateralism, and fostering political, security, economic, and people-to-people interactions in the region. The SCO adheres to principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding, and equality among member states.”

    China is hosting the conclave as the current chair of the SCO.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • PM Modi pays tribute to defenders of democracy on ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Marking the 50th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heartfelt tribute to the countless Indians who stood in defence of democracy during what he described as one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history.

    Observing June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day), the Prime Minister reflected on the grave assault on constitutional values that occurred during the Emergency period from 1975 to 1977. He highlighted how fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished, and thousands of political leaders, social workers, students, and ordinary citizens were imprisoned.

    In a public statement, PM Modi reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the Constitution and emphasized the importance of working collectively to realize the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). He noted that the anti-Emergency movement served as a critical learning experience and a reminder of the importance of preserving the democratic framework.

    Calling on all those who lived through or were affected by the Emergency, the Prime Minister encouraged citizens to share their stories and memories on social media. He said this would help create awareness among today’s youth about the events that took place during those turbulent years.

    In a series of posts on X, the Prime Minister remarked, “Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished and several political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens were jailed. It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest.”

    He further stated, “No Indian will ever forget the manner in which the spirit of our Constitution was violated, the voice of Parliament muzzled and attempts were made to control the courts. The 42nd Amendment is a prime example of their shenanigans. The poor, marginalised and downtrodden were particularly targeted, including their dignity insulted.”

    Saluting the resilience of those who resisted the Emergency, Modi said, “We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency. These were people from across India, from all walks of life and from diverse ideologies, united in their resolve to protect the democratic fabric of the nation. Their collective efforts ultimately led to the restoration of democracy and the defeat of the then Congress Government in the subsequent elections.”

    The Prime Minister also reiterated the present government’s resolve to uphold constitutional principles and pursue inclusive national development. “We also reiterate our commitment to strengthening the principles in our Constitution and working together to realise our vision of a Viksit Bharat. May we scale new heights of progress and fulfil the dreams of the poor and downtrodden,” he added.

    Sharing personal memories, PM Modi recalled, “When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum.”

    The Prime Minister also mentioned the recently released book The Emergency Diaries, which documents his experiences during that time. He noted that the foreword to the book was written by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, a veteran of the anti-Emergency movement.

    “I call upon all those who remember those dark days of the Emergency or those whose families suffered during that time to share their experiences on social media. It will create awareness among the youth of the shameful time from 1975 to 1977,” PM Modi said.

    The solemn occasion was a reminder of the resilience of India’s democratic institutions and the enduring spirit of its people in the face of authoritarianism.

  • Stock market trades higher as geopolitical tensions ease, Sensex up over 400 points

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian benchmark indices opened over 400 points up on Wednesday amid positive global cues, as buying was seen in the IT, auto and pharma sectors in the early trade.

    At around 9.25 am, Sensex was trading 445.6 points or 0.54 per cent up at 82,500.73 while the Nifty added 130.15 point or 0.52 per cent at 25,174.50

    According to analysts, a significant feature of the recent market trend has been its resilience despite major challenges like the West Asian crisis.

    “Even during the short India-Pakistan conflict, the market has been resilient. A significant contributor to this resilience has been FII buying during the crisis,” said Dr VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited.

    Nifty Bank was up 31.25 points or 0.06 per cent at 56,493.15. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 58,867.80 after adding 245.40 points or 0.42 per cent. Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 18,617.85 after climbing 165.10 points or 0.89 per cent.

    Meanwhile, in the Sensex pack, Titan, UltraTech Cement, Trent, HCL Tech, Adani Ports, Tech Mahindra, Tata Steel, PowerGrid, Hindustan Unilever Limited and L&T were the top gainers. Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, BEL, and Axis Bank were the top losers.

    Interestingly, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have been selling as the Mideast crisis blows over. On the other hand, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have been sustained buyers in the market, thanks to the continuing inflows into mutual funds, said experts.

    This will impart resilience to the market even when FIIs sell on valuation concerns, they added.

    FIIs were net sellers on June 24, selling equities worth Rs 5,266.01 crore. Meanwhile, DIIs remained buyers, purchasing equities worth Rs 5,209.60 crore.

    In the Asian markets, Japan, China, Seoul and Hong Kong were trading in green. Whereas Bangkok and Jakarta were trading in red.

    In the last trading session, Dow Jones in the US closed at 42,581.78, up 507.24 points, or 1.19 per cent. The S&P 500 ended with a gain of 67.01 points, or 1.11 per cent, at 6,025.17 and the Nasdaq closed at 19,630.97, up 281.56 points, or 1.43 per cent.

    (IANS)

  • Neeraj Chopra wins Ostrava Golden Spike meet with a throw of 85.29m

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra won the javelin throw title at the Ostrava Golden Spike 2025 meet with a best throw of 85.29 metres during the one-day competition held on Tuesday.

    Neeraj clinched victory with one throw remaining, as his third-attempt effort of 85.29m remained unbeaten through all six rounds, securing him yet another top podium finish this season. This marks his second title within a month, following his recent triumph at the Paris Diamond League.

    The 27-year-old athlete from Haryana delivered his best throw in the third round. He finished first ahead of Douw Smit of South Africa, who threw 84.12m, and Anderson Peters of Grenada, who managed 83.63m, securing second and third place, respectively.

    Neeraj, who made history by winning India’s first Olympic gold medal in athletics at Tokyo 2020, and a silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has been in fine form this season. After winning the Paris Diamond League, he was keen to extend his winning streak in Ostrava—and he did just that.

    However, while he secured the top spot, the distance might leave him slightly disappointed, as he has previously surpassed the 90-metre mark and is aiming to breach that barrier again soon.

    The competition didn’t start smoothly for Neeraj. His first attempt was a foul, and his second throw measured 83.45m. But he made a strong comeback on his third attempt, launching the spear to 85.29m, which proved to be the winning throw. Douw Smit followed with 84.12m, and Anderson Peters was close behind with 83.63m.

    Neeraj could not better his distance in the remaining attempts. He recorded 82.17m in the fourth, 81.01m in the fifth, and deliberately fouled his final throw, opting not to complete it after an unsatisfactory release.

    Despite not crossing the 90-metre mark, Neeraj Chopra’s consistency and commanding performance reaffirm his status as one of the top javelin throwers in the world.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • ‘Bringing laurels to country’: Shubhanshu Shukla’s parents express their happiness ahead of Axiom-4 mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Joy, pride, and excitement swept through Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to make history with the Axiom-4 mission, set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday.

    The Indian Air Force Group Captain, hailing from Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, is heading to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 Mission.

    Shukla’s father, Shambhu Dayal, expressed that his son’s achievement brings pride not only to Lucknow but also to the entire nation.

    “…His mission is set to launch around 12 noon IST. We are very eager to see his mission launch. We are delighted. Our blessings are with him, and we also pray to God for his mission to be completed well… He is fully prepared… It feels great to see all the posters that have been put up for him… He is bringing laurels to Lucknow, the state and our country… We are proud of him,” Shambhu Sayal said.

    Asha Shukla, Shubhanshu’s mother, praised her daughter-in-law for her unwavering support ahead of the mission, emphasizing that this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without her.
    “It is a moment of pride for us and everyone else. Posters are being put up everywhere. Everyone is delighted that a man from this country, this Triveni Nagar, is going to soar so high… We are sending all our wishes and blessings to him… He has all the support of our daughter-in-law. This could not have been possible without her… She has played the biggest role here,” she added.

    The Axiom-4 mission is targeting a launch window of 2:31 a.m. EDT or 12 noon IST on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the US.
    The crew, piloted by India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am EDT on Thursday, or 4 pm IST.

    The four-member crew, which has been in quarantine in Florida, will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. The mission specialists are ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

    The Ax-4 mission will “realise the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries’ second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station.

    For Group Captain Shukla, this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Sharma spent seven days in space on board the Salyut 7 space station.

    The Ax-4 mission is also conducting major research. The research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the UAE, and nations across Europe.
    For ISRO and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, this mission lays the groundwork for India’s space roadmap to land an Indian on the Moon by 2040.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • ‘Want to ignite curiosity among children,’ says IAF Shubhanshu Shukla as Ax-4 gets ready to take wings

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will pilot the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), is one of the four astronauts selected for ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission.

    Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in June 2006. A highly accomplished combat leader and seasoned test pilot, he has amassed over 2,000 hours of flight experience across a wide range of aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.

    In 2019, Shukla began intensive training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Moscow—a rigorous, year-long preparation that set the course for his spaceflight journey. On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially introduced Shukla as one of the astronauts undergoing advanced training for Gaganyaan, India’s maiden human spaceflight mission, scheduled for launch in 2025.

    Now, Group Captain Shukla is gearing up to pilot the historic Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a major milestone in India’s human spaceflight journey.

    “I found out I was going probably a week before we arrived at Axiom. I was extremely excited—this was a real opportunity to actually fly to space. You don’t even know how to respond to something like that,” Shukla shared in a YouTube video posted by the Ax-4 mission team.

    The Ax-4 crew will be led by Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. She praised Shukla’s capabilities:

    “For me, having him as my pilot in the Dragon capsule is great. He already has that operational savvy—he’s just wicked smart when it comes to spacecraft technologies,” Whitson remarked.

    Shukla will pilot a three-member crew that includes Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists.

    “The team I’m flying with on this mission is fantastic. I truly feel I have exceptional crewmates. While I’ll fly with them just this once, these are people who will remain my friends for life,” said Shukla.

    Group Captain Shukla’s participation in Ax-4 is poised to inspire a new generation, just as Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma did in 1984 when he became the first Indian in space.

    “It has been an amazing journey. These are the kind of moments that make you realize you’re part of something far greater than yourself. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this mission. My sincere endeavour is to inspire a generation back home in India. If my story can ignite curiosity or change even one life, that alone would make this mission a success for me,” Shukla said.

    As Ax-4 lifts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, it will not only mark a new chapter for commercial spaceflight but also a defining moment in India’s journey into human space exploration.

    (With inputs from ANI)

     

  • We salute every person who stood firm in fight against Emergency: PM Modi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the commitment to strengthening the principles in the Constitution and working together to realise the nation’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.

    He said this on Wednesday while marking 50 years of the imposition of the Emergency in the country.

    In a post on X, PM Modi wrote that this day marks 50 years of one of the darkest chapters in India’s history when the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside.

    “Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished and several political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens were jailed.”

    “It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest!” said PM Modi.

    He said the country salutes every person who stood up against the tyranny.

    “We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency! These were the people from all over India, from all walks of life, from diverse ideologies who worked closely with each other with one aim: to protect India’s democratic fabric and to preserve the ideals for which our freedom fighters devoted their lives.”

    The Prime Minister said in his post that it was their collective struggle that ensured that the then Congress government had to restore democracy and call for fresh elections, which they badly lost.

    Reiterating the commitment to the Constitution and its values, he said, “We also reiterate our commitment to strengthening the principles in our Constitution and working together to realise our vision of a Viksit Bharat.”

    “May we scale new heights of progress and fulfil the dreams of the poor and downtrodden,” he added.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is observing the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, which was imposed by the Indira Gandhi-led government in 1975, as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day).

    The party has planned extensive outreach programmes at district and booth levels across the country to mark the day as a “dark chapter” in India’s democratic history.

    (IANS)

  • We salute every person who stood firm in fight against Emergency: PM Modi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the commitment to strengthening the principles in the Constitution and working together to realise the nation’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.

    He said this on Wednesday while marking 50 years of the imposition of the Emergency in the country.

    In a post on X, PM Modi wrote that this day marks 50 years of one of the darkest chapters in India’s history when the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside.

    “Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished and several political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens were jailed.”

    “It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest!” said PM Modi.

    He said the country salutes every person who stood up against the tyranny.

    “We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency! These were the people from all over India, from all walks of life, from diverse ideologies who worked closely with each other with one aim: to protect India’s democratic fabric and to preserve the ideals for which our freedom fighters devoted their lives.”

    The Prime Minister said in his post that it was their collective struggle that ensured that the then Congress government had to restore democracy and call for fresh elections, which they badly lost.

    Reiterating the commitment to the Constitution and its values, he said, “We also reiterate our commitment to strengthening the principles in our Constitution and working together to realise our vision of a Viksit Bharat.”

    “May we scale new heights of progress and fulfil the dreams of the poor and downtrodden,” he added.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is observing the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, which was imposed by the Indira Gandhi-led government in 1975, as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day).

    The party has planned extensive outreach programmes at district and booth levels across the country to mark the day as a “dark chapter” in India’s democratic history.

    (IANS)