Tag: Narendra Modi

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Modi Congratulates ‘Friend’ Donald Trump On Victory

Donald Trump declared victory with some US media outlets projecting that he would win 277 Electoral College votes, reports Asian Lite news

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday afternoon congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential elections, asserting that he is looking forward to renewing collaboration with the 78-year-old leader to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.

“Heartiest congratulations my friend, Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity,” PM Modi posted on X after Trump’s triumph in the US election.

Earlier, the Republican candidate declared victory with some US media outlets projecting that he would win 277 Electoral College votes.

At least 270 Electoral College votes are needed to clinch the presidency.

In September, the former US President had called PM Modi a “fantastic man”, hoping that they would meet during the Prime Minister’s US visit for the Quad Summit and UN General Assembly session in New York.

Later, during his election campaign, he referred to PM Modi as a “total killer” with the nation’s adversaries.

“He’s great, he’s a friend of mine, but on the outside, he looks like he’s your father”, yet “he’s the nicest, total killer”, Trump stated during a podcast interview.

Explaining the assessment, he said, “We had a couple of occasions where somebody was threatening India. I said, let me help. I’m very good with those people. Let me help”.

But PM Modi turned down the offer saying, “I will do it. I will do it, and I will do anything necessary. We’ve defeated them for hundreds of years,” Trump said.

Last month, in an exclusive interview with IANS, John Bolton, the US National Security Advisor (NSA) to Donald Trump from 2018-2019, said that the India-US relationship could be the “defining event” of the 21st century as India continues its rise as a major global power.

He insisted that strong personal ties between PM Modi and the former US President augurs well for the both countries.

“I think the US-India relationship could well be the defining event of the 21st century. How we work together, how we deal with the threat posed by China and other complicated problems in the world, could well be the most important foreign policy priority for both countries.

“I do think Trump and Modi have a good personal relationship and, in Trump’s view, he thinks if he has a good personal relationship with the leader of another country, then the two countries have good relations. That’s an oversimplification. But it’s certainly, particularly with friendly countries, if the two leaders have a good relationship that can help overcome, you know, problems that develop,” Bolton told IANS.

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What Labour’s victory means for India-UK ties

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attempted to reach out to the Indian diaspora and distance the party from a perceived hostile stance under the previous leadership, Starmer pledged to build stronger business links with India, writes Dr Sandeep Sharma

The U.K. has its first change in government in 14 years after the Labour Party won a landslide victory in a general election that saw the Conservative Party suffer its biggest defeat ever. The landslide majority of new Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the UK has paved the way for a fresh chapter in the country’s relations with India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Starmer on the “remarkable” victory. “I look forward to our positive and constructive collaboration to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in all areas, fostering mutual growth and prosperity,” Modi said in a post on X.

New Prime Minister Keir Starmer is leading an entirely different Labour Party, which has moved far away from Labour party historical anti-India stance. India’s relations with the UK can be expected to develop incrementally with the new Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer, which won 410 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons.The Labour Party under Starmer has emphasised the importance of close ties with India.

The results of the UK general elections also signify that the attempts by the Labour party to connect with the Indian diaspora electorate have borne fruit. In the past, the Labour party’s resolution during an annual conference under former leader Jeremy Corbyn in favour of international intervention in Kashmir was widely seen as having cost it British Indian votes in the 2019 general election.

But Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been advocating a pro-India stance for some time now. In April 2020 when Keir Starmer was newly elected as Leader of the Opposition Labour Party, he had said that Kashmir is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve peacefully and stressed that such divisive issues from the subcontinent should not be allowed to divide communities in Britain.  During his first dialogue with the Labour Friends of India (LFIN) group in London Starmer attempted to reach out to the Indian diaspora and distance the party from a perceived hostile stance under the previous leadership, Starmer pledged to build stronger business links with India.

On his campaign trail, Starmer himself tried to woo the British Indian voters and with India. He visited the Swaminarayan Temple in Kingsbury on June 28 to reiterate his commitment to building a “strategic partnership with India”. “If we’re elected next week, we will strive to govern in the spirit of sewa to serve you and a world in need,” said Starmer, reiterating his promise of “absolutely no place for Hinduphobia in Britain”.

Keir Starmer’s manifesto included a commitment to pursue a “new strategic partnership” with India, emphasising the FTA and marking a significant shift from the party’s stance under former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who had a perceived anti-India stance, particularly regarding Jammu & Kashmir.

Since Starmer too over as Labour Party chief the Labour Convention of Indian Organisations (LCIO) has been aiming to boost the Indian diaspora connection, by fostering inclusive sustainable growth for both countries through a trade agreement; deepening cultural and educational ties between Britain and India; and engaging with India as a “partner and critical friend” on issues of concern for British Indians.

In 2022, the LCIO announced its relaunch on Independence Day to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence and hailed its mission of strengthening India-UK relations. At that time  Sir Keir Starmer had said, “I welcome the re-establishment of the Labour Convention of Indian Organisations. The timing is poignant as people worldwide celebrate 75 years of Indian independence.”

With the new government taking charge in Britain, Anneliese Dodds, Labour Party chair and shadow Secretary of State for women and equalities, said, “We would certainly never take any group of voters, wherever they’re from, for granted; we’re working hard for everyone’s votes.” Dodds has also claimed that the party led by Keir Starmer is confident of having cleansed its ranks of any members with anti India extremist views. “Going beyond warm words, we want to build that practical, strong relationship. Labour has talked a lot about a strategic partnership with India that covers trade. But we want to see cooperation in other areas as well, such as new technologies, the environment and security,” she added.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at G7 meet in Italy. Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also seen in the picture.

There are challenges too, for the Starmer and Modi governments  in addressing issues such as the increased activities of anti-Indian elements in the UK, cooperation on countering terrorism emanating from Pakistan, negotiating the UK’s recourse to protectionist measures such as labour and environmental standards for bilateral trade, and differing perspectives on how fundamental human rights and freedoms are being upheld. For India, issues such as concluding a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, liberalising UK immigration policies to increase the flow of Indian students and professionals to the UK, and increased cooperation in the application of technologies for development, including in the environmental sector are the priorities.

The Labour Party has maintained its commitment to finalise the FTA, although the specific timelines will remain unclear for the foreseeable future. After taking charge Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he stood ready to conclude an FTA that worked for both sides. The Labour Party’s election manifesto for the recent polls also committed to clinching the deal.

Lord Karan Bilimoria

Lord Karan Bilimoria, a crossbench peer who has led many trade delegations to India, expressed confidence that Starmer would set the right tone in terms of student visas and end the hostile Conservative rhetoric around immigration. “With Keir Starmer now being in power, this is a great opportunity to turbo-charge the UK-India relationship, which was very strong under (former Tory prime minister) David Cameron but since then has not been anywhere near as effective,” said the founder of Cobra Beer.

The new Starmer-led government’s new Foreign Secretary David Lammy is also on the record saying that he wants to finish the job on the FTA and plans to visit India within the first month of being elected. Referring to the missed Diwali 2022 deadline set by former prime minister Boris Johnson for the India-UK FTA, Lammy pointed out that “many Diwalis have come and gone without a trade deal and too many businesses have been left waiting”. 

According to the think tank GTRI (Global Trade Research Initiative), the agreement is nearly finalised and with a few minor adjustments like curtailing the number of visas for Indian professionals, the Labour Party is likely to give its approval.

David Lammy said he wants to finish the job on the FTA and plans to visit India within the first month of being elected.

Biswajit Dhar, distinguished professor at the Council for Social Development, expects the Keir Starmer-led government to foster a stable relationship between India and the UK in the coming years. “Britain needs to engage with India even more now since it has political stability. Britain is really going to push for its economic revival. When a country is so dependent on the global economy, it actually needs large markets like India to facilitate its recovery process.”

The political stability necessary for a trade agreement with India, potentially involving high tariff levels, has been elusive in London since the unexpected Brexit referendum. However, the decisive victory for Labour is likely to provide the needed political flexibility to strike an agreement with India.

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Musk Congratulates Modi, Eyes India Investments

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said his companies are looking to invest in India soon.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Friday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his re-election for a record third term to run the country.

In a post on X, the tech billionaire said his companies are looking to invest in the country soon.

“Congratulations @narendramodi on your victory in the world’s largest democratic elections,” Musk wrote.

“Looking forward to my companies doing exciting work in India,” he added.

In April this year, Musk postponed his proposed visit to India due to “very heavy Tesla obligations”.

He was expected to visit the country on April 21 and 22 and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, in San Jose, California. (File Photo)

Musk later said he looks forward to coming to India later this year.

“Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed, but I do very much look forward to visiting later this year,” Musk posted on X.

Musk met PM Modi in June last year in the US, expressing confidence that Tesla would enter the Indian market soon, along with Starlink.

Tesla is likely to set up its manufacturing unit in India and make large-scale investments.

Last year, Tesla approached the Indian government seeking duty cuts to import its vehicles in the country.

ALSO READ: Trump considering Musk for White House advisory role  

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UAE leaders congratulate Modi

Hailing a deeply rooted strategic partnership between UAE and India, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed said he is looking forward to continued collaboration aimed at advancing the shared development goals….reports Asian Lite News

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a cable of congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his re-election for a third term.

“I extend my sincere congratulations to my friend Narendra Modi on his re-election as Prime Minister and wish him success in leading India to further progress and growth,” he wrote on social media.

Hailing a deeply rooted strategic partnership between UAE and India, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed said: “I am looking forward to our continued collaboration aimed at advancing the shared development goals of our nations and our peoples.”

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, sent two similar messages to the Indian Prime Minister.

Congratulating Modi on a “historic” third term, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed said: “We trust that India, under his leadership, will maintain its economic progress and continue to build on his remarkable achievements of the past decade.”

“We look forward to further strengthening our bilateral relations across all areas of cooperation for mutual benefit and prosperity,” he added.

Meanwhile, UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan also congratulated Prime Minister Modi on the victory.

“I heartily congratulate my friend Narendra Modi on his re-election as Prime Minister. I wish him success in leading India on further progress and development. Our two countries have a deep strategic partnership. I look forward to continued cooperation aimed at advancing the shared development goals of our countries and our people,” Sheikh Abdullah posted.

PM Modi is likely to take oath on June 8 after the BJP-led NDA narrowly surpassed the majority mark, winning 293 seats in the 18th Lok Sabha elections, while the opposition INDIA bloc secured 234 seats.

The counting of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was held on Tuesday. According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, much lower than its 2019 tally of 303.

The main opposition Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats against 52 in 2019.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal have confirmed they will be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said on Thursday.

Both Hasina and her Nepal counterpart Dahal had previously extended their greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the performance of the NDA at the 18th Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is scheduled to visit India to engage with the new government in New Delhi as Narendra Modi is set to take oath as the Prime Minister for a record third consecutive term, the White House said.

Sullivan’s visit was discussed when US President Joe Biden spoke to Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday to congratulate him on his re-election.

“President Joseph Biden Jr spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to congratulate him and the National Democratic Alliance on their historic victory in India’s general election,” the White House said in a statement.

The two leaders stressed their commitment to strengthening the US-India Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership and to advancing their common vision of a free, open and prosperous India-Pacific region, the White House added.

President Biden praised the “friendship” between the US and India on X. This was followed by similar congratulatory messages by other senior members of his Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Meanwhile, the decks are now cleared for the BJP-led NDA to form the government following a meeting of the alliance members held here on Wednesday.

All pre-poll allies including TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and JD-U leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with other leaders of the alliance participated in discussions to finalise the modalities for the NDA government’s formation for the third consecutive term.

BJP president J.P. Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and leaders of other parties of the NDA were also present at the meeting.

The NDA has unanimously adopted a resolution electing Narendra Modi as the alliance’s leader.

The resolution highlights “the impactful development witnessed by 1.4 billion Indian citizens across the nation through the NDA government’s public welfare schemes under PM Modi’s leadership over the past decade”.

It acknowledges “the nation’s choice of robust leadership for the third consecutive term”.

The resolution “proudly emphasises the unity showcased by the NDA during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections under PM Modi’s guidance, resulting in a victorious outcome”.

It declares “the unanimous election of Narendra Modi as the leader, affirming the commitment of the NDA government, under his leadership, to serve the underprivileged segments of society, including the poor, women, youth, farmers and marginalised communities”.

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Modi spotlights ‘Naari Shakti’ initiatives at Varanasi event

The program titled Naari Shakti Samvad, saw the presence of more than 25,000 women supporters at the rally venue…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the Mahila Sammelan event in Varanasi on Tuesday, enumerated various pro-women measures and welfare policies launched under NDA to bring improvement in their lives.

The program titled Naari Shakti Samvad, saw the presence of more than 25,000 women supporters at the rally venue.

Prime Minister, started off his speech by extending gratitude to the Matrushakti and went on to enlighten them on how the NDA government’s various schemes were making their life easier and better.

“We have built 11 crore toilets for the comfort and convenience of women, we have built 4 crore houses and got them registered in the name of women members,” PM Modi told the gathering.

Mocking the Congress regimes for their ignorance of ‘matrushakti’, he said, “If a household can’t run without women folk, how could they think that a country can run without women’s power?”

PM Modi also informed the gathering about how various schemes were helping people save money. 

He said that the free ration scheme helps them save about Rs 12,000 every year, Ujjawala Yojana helps a household save Rs 300 monthly and informed that close to 90,000 pregnant women in Varanasi alone got Rs 6,000 in their bank accounts under the government-run scheme.

“More than 3 lakh people got operated for cataract for free,” he further informed.

He further said that many residents of Varanasi are benefitting from Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and in the third term, his government will help them install solar panels, thus enabling them to make their electricity bill zero and also make earnings from it.

“Women folks of Self-help group (SHG) are being trained to become drone pilots and they will lead the revolution in agriculture,” PM Modi stated.

He said that women have always taken precedence in NDA’s policies in the past ten years and they remain a testimony of India’s success story.

He also spoke about the unprecedented surge of pilgrims at the Kashi Vishwanath and how the adjoining food and restaurant, hotel and homestays businesses have seen their businesses flourish.

PM Modi’s address to the thousands of women participants was also laced with an emotional touch.

“It’s for the first time that I am filing my nomination without taking the blessings of my mother. I always said that I came to Varanasi on the call of Maa Ganga, today it has adopted me,” PM Modi told the gathering.

Giving some valuable tips on improving the poll percentage in elections, PM Modi urged the ‘naari shakti’ to lead the electorate by setting examples.

“You should form groups, take out processions and marches, playing thaalis and singing songs to encourage and inspire others to follow suit,” he said while urging them to ensure that BJP wins every booth.

PM Modi also lambasted the INDIA bloc for their regressive policies, which kept women under shackles.

“The mindset of INDI bloc anti-women. Leave aside talks of emancipation, their focus has been suppression of women’s freedom and rights,” he said, recalling the statement of tall SP leader,” Ladke hain, galti ho jaati hai”.

Prime Minister also issued a warning of sorts to ruffians, with alleged affiliations to SP, and said, “Don’t even think of belittling or hurting women because Yogi government will give the right treatment to your misdeeds.”

Don’t degenerate Tamils to gain vote: Stalin tells Modi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi “not to denigrate Tamil Nadu and Tamil people for garnering votes” in north Indian and other states.

Taking strong exception to a speech by the Prime Minister in which he said that the keys of the Puri Jagannath temple treasury were in Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said that the PM’s statement had, apart from insulting crores of believers of Lord Jagannath, been offensive to the people of Tamil Nadu who maintain a cordial relationship with the people of Odisha.

“Can Prime Minister Modi accuse the people of Tamil Nadu of stealing from the treasury of Lord Jagannath of Puri? Will calling the people of Tamil Nadu dishonest not amount to insulting the people of Tamil Nadu? Why does the PM harbour so much hatred towards the people of Tamil Nadu ?” Stalin, who is also the DMK chief, said in a statement.

Hitting out at the Prime Minister, he said: “The Prime Minister who glorifies Tamil language and lauds the intellectual capacity of Tamils while he is in Tamil Nadu, projects the same people as ‘thieves’ and ‘hate-mongers’ while he is campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.”

“People will understand his double standards, the Prime Minister must stop denigrating Tamil Nadu and Tamils for votes.”

Stalin also accused PM Modi “of promoting enmity between states and their peoples through his hate speeches instead of being a role model and highlighting his government’s achievements and party’s ideology and levelling constructive criticism against the opposition during campaigns without violating political decorum”.

The Prime Minister’s speeches do not augur well for the country, he contended.

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Tesla’s India Entry Boosted With New EV Policy

The Government of India has approved a new electric vehicle (EV) policy that is designed to attract investments in the EV space by global manufacturers like the Musk-run electric car company.

Tesla lovers in the country are anxiously waiting for the first response from Elon Musk after the government approved a new electric vehicle (EV) policy that is designed to attract investments in the EV space by global manufacturers like the Musk-run electric car company.

It was in 2015 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tesla headquarters in Palo Alto, California and met the billionaire who gave the Prime Minister a tour of the company’s electric car plant.

In later years, the billionaire sought customs duty to be lowered so that he could bring Tesla vehicles to the country.

Presently, customs duty on cars imported as completely built units (CBUs) varies from 60-100 per cent, depending on their cost.

In the new policy, the government has reduced the customs duty to 15 per cent, with certain riders.

“The customs duty of 15 per cent (as applicable to completely knocked down or CKD units) would be applicable on the vehicle of minimum value of $35,000 and above for a total period of five years subject to the manufacturer setting up manufacturing facilities in India within a 3-year period,” according to the government.

This now paves the way for Musk to enter the Indian market.

Last year, PM Modi met Musk in the US and appreciated his efforts at making technology accessible and affordable in various sectors.

The Prime Minister invited Musk to explore opportunities in India for investments in electric mobility and the rapidly expanding commercial space sector.

After hearing PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ pitch, the Tesla CEO announced that his electric vehicle and battery company will come to the country “as soon as it is humanly possible”.

“He (PM Modi) really cares about India because he’s pushing us to make significant investments in India, which is something that we intend to do and we’re just trying to figure out the right timing,” said the billionaire.

In the new EV scheme, the government mentioned that a minimum investment of Rs 4,150 crore (about $500 million) will be needed to set up manufacturing facilities and production started within three years and reach 25 per cent DVA (domestic value addition) by three years and 50 per cent DVA within 5 years at the maximum.

India’s EV market has the potential to achieve over 40 per cent penetration with $100 billion revenue by 2030.

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Bill Gates Visits Statue Of Unity, Calls It ‘Engineering Marvel’

Bill Gates has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inviting him at the monument.

Microsoft co-founder and leading philanthropist, Bill Gates heaped praise on the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, calling it an “engineering marvel” and a great tribute Sardar Patel.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inviting him at the monument. He also appreciated the economic opportunity for local tribal communities arising out of it.

“Thank you @narendramodi for the invitation to visit the impressive Statue of Unity. It is an engineering marvel and a great tribute to Sardar Patel. Also great to see it is creating economic opportunity for local tribal communities, especially women,” Gates posted on social media platform X.

Reacting to his post, PM Modi said that he is ‘glad’ on Gates enjoying the experience. He also urged people from across the globe to visit the world’s tallest statue in Gujarat.

“Happy to see this! Glad that you enjoyed your experience at the ‘Statue of Unity.’ I also urge people from all over the world to visit it in the coming times,” PM Modi stated on X.

Earlier on Friday, the Microsoft co-founder met Union Minister for IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw and discussed how India’s AI ecosystem could be used to improve health, agriculture, and education in the country.

“I met with @AshwiniVaishnaw to talk about India’s AI ecosystem and how it can be used to improve health, agriculture, and education. India’s digital public infrastructure journey is a fantastic model for emerging economies. @BMGFIndia hopes to support the Indian government’s initiatives to build open, secure, and interoperable systems that are inclusive and create strong digital economies,” Gates posted on X.

Bill Gates is on a visit to India, during which he has met several top leaders and also participated in other cultural and local events.

He also arrived in Jamnagar, Gujarat, for the three-day pre-wedding celebrations of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s youngest son, Anant Ambani, and industrialist Viren Merchant’s daughter, Radhika Merchant.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Modi and Bill Gates held a dialogue centred around harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) for the greater good of the public. The leaders expressed their shared commitment to sectors that hold the potential to enhance the planet and uplift millions worldwide.

Meanwhile, his video with Dolly Chaiwala has taken the internet by storm and garnered millions of views on multiple platforms.

The video opens with Bill Gates in the frame, requesting, “One chai, please”. The tea seller’s unique method of preparing tea on his cart is a highlight, offering a glimpse into the artistry of making this beloved beverage. (ANI)

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Govts need to be inclusive, clean, and transparent: Modi at WGS 2024

Governments must collaborate and learn from each other to address future challenges, PM Modi says

Reiterating his mantra of ‘minimum government, maximum governance,’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the need of the hour is for governments to be inclusive, clean, and transparent. 
 
He has also emphasised that governments must prioritise Ease of Living, Ease of Justice, Ease of Mobility, Ease of Innovation and Ease of Doing Business in their approach to public service.
 
Prime Minister Modi was speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, UAE, where he was the guest of honour, on Wednesday (February 14, 2024). He was delivering the special keynote address on the theme of the Summit – “Shaping the Future Governments”. 
 
Referring to the interconnected nature of the world, he said governments must collaborate and learn from each other to address future challenges.
 
Prime Minister Modi shared the Indian experience on how the country had leveraged digital technology to further welfare, inclusivity and sustainability, and called for a human- centric approach to governance. He also underlined India’s focus on people’s participation, last-mile-delivery and women-led development to achieve an inclusive society.

He also highlighted India’s steadfast commitment to Climate Change action and called for people to join Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) to create a sustainable world.
 
During his address, Prime Minister Modi elaborated on the leadership role played by India as the chair of G-20 last year, on a wide range of issues and challenges facing the world. In this context, he highlighted the efforts made by India to bring development concerns facing the Global South to the centre-stage of global discourse.

Calling for the reform of multilateral institutions, he pushed for greater voice for the Global South in its decision making. India, he stressed, will continue to contribute to global progress based on its role as a “Vishwa Bandhu”.
 
Prime Minister Modi had attended the World Governments Summit in 2018, also as Guest of Honour. The Summit this time saw participation of 20 world leaders, including 10 Presidents and 10 Prime Ministers. Governments and delegates from over 120countries were represented at the global gathering. (India News Network)

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‘India modernising laws to reflect present realities’

PM Narendra Modi said that India inherited a legal system from colonial times.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India is modernising its laws to reflect the present realities and that in the last few years, the country has done away with thousands of obsolete laws from colonial times.

“India is modernising laws to reflect the present realities. Now, three new legislations have replaced more than 100-year-old colonial criminal laws,” the Prime Minister said while addressing the inaugural event of CLEA -Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference 2024.

The PM said that India inherited a legal system from colonial times. “But in the last few years, we made a number of reforms to it. For example, India has done away with thousands of obsolete laws from colonial times.”

The CLEA -Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference (CASGC) 2024 at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi was also attended by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and CJI DY Chandrachud.

The theme of the conference is “Cross-Border Challenges in Justice Delivery”. This conference aims to deliberate on important issues pertaining to law and justice like judicial transition and the ethical dimensions of legal practice; executive accountability; and revisiting modern-day legal education, among others, as per a release issued by the prime minister’s office.

While addressing the conference, PM Modi said that sometimes ensuring justice in one country requires working with other countries.

“When we collaborate, we can understand each other’s systems better. Greater understanding brings greater synergy. Synergy boosts better and faster justice delivery,” he said.

He said 21st-century challenges cannot be fought with a 20th-century approach. There is a need to rethink, reimagine and reform.

The PM in his address also said that India has a special relationship with the African Union. “We are proud that the African Union became a part of the G20 during India’s presidency. This will go a long way in addressing the aspirations of the people of Africa,” he said.

Among the participants of the CLEA -Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference 2024 were attorney generals and solicitors from the Commonwealth nations spanning the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Caribbean along with various international delegations.

The conference serves as a unique platform by offering a forum for interaction among different stakeholders in the Commonwealth legal fraternity, as per the release.

It also includes an exclusive roundtable conference tailored for attorneys and solicitor generals, aiming to develop a comprehensive roadmap to address the challenges in legal education and transnational justice delivery. (ANI)

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PM Modi Takes Sortie In Tejas Fighter Jet

Tejas is a single-seater fighter aircraft but the Prime Minister took a sortie in the twin-seat trainer variant operated by the Air Force and the Navy.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took a sortie in the Tejas fighter jet, saying that the experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country’s indigenous capabilities

The Prime MInister shared the photographs of his flying in Tejas fighter jets earlier on Saturday and said: “Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country’s indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential.”

“Heartiest congratulations to the Indian Air Force, DRDO and HAL as well as all Indians,” Modi said.

Tejas is a single-seater fighter aircraft but the Prime Minister took a sortie in the twin-seat trainer variant operated by the Air Force and the Navy.

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is a 4.5-generation multi-role fighter aircraft and is designed to take offensive air support and provide close combat support for ground operations.

The LCA was built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and was primarily designed for the Indian Air Force but a naval variant of the Tejas is being tested to undertake Ground Maritime Operations.