Category: India

On International Women’s Day, the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lt Gen K T Parnaik, and Chief Minister Pema Khandu sent special greetings to the women of the state. Governor Parnaik emphasized the importance of creating a fair world where every woman can succeed. This year’s theme, “Embracing Equity, Inspiring Change,” reminds us to take active steps towards empowering women.

He said, “International Women’s Day is not just a celebration but also a call to action. It reminds us how important women are in families, communities, and the country.” The Governor praised the strength and achievements of women in Arunachal Pradesh, who have played a big role in the state’s development. He highlighted that empowering women is key to a strong and inclusive society.

Parnaik encouraged women to recognize their value, stand up for their rights, and seek better opportunities. He said, “Let’s make this day inspire action and create a world where every woman can lead and succeed.”

Chief Minister Pema Khandu shared similar thoughts on social media, wishing everyone a Happy International Women’s Day. He celebrated the strength and achievements of women everywhere and urged everyone to support and empower one another for a brighter future. Khandu also met mixed martial arts fighter Sonam Zomba from Arunachal Pradesh and expressed joy at meeting her on this special day.

He highlighted how women contribute greatly to sports, leadership, and community building, playing a crucial role in shaping a better future for everyone.

Congress leader Manish Tewari criticized the BJP-led government for its trade policy. He said it is “unfortunate” that India is cutting tariffs under pressure from the United States. Tewari, who is an MP from Chandigarh, believes this is not a good way to handle trade or foreign relations.

He pointed out that President Donald Trump has often accused India of having high tariffs, which make it hard for American businesses to sell products here. Trump mentioned this in a recent speech, saying India has agreed to lower its tariffs because someone is finally calling them out on it.

Tewari thinks it would be better for India to implement fair trade agreements rather than give in to America’s demands. He confirmed that the Congress party will bring this issue up in Parliament soon.

As the US gets ready to introduce new tariffs on countries with high tariffs on American goods, Trump insists that the US won’t allow itself to be taken advantage of anymore, especially by nations like India.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed his support for women, also known as “Nari Shakti,” by sharing his social media accounts with six incredible women. These women come from different parts of India and have inspiring stories.

Meet the Amazing Women:

– Vaishali Rameshbabu: A young chess star from Chennai, Vaishali started playing chess at just six years old. In 2023, she became a Chess Grandmaster, making India proud with her talent.

– Dr. Anjlee Agarwal: A strong advocate for accessibility, Dr. Agarwal runs the Samarthyam Centre for Universal Accessibility. For over 30 years, she has worked to make public spaces, like schools, easier to access for people with disabilities.

– Anita Devi: Known as the “Mushroom Lady of Bihar,” Anita started the Madhopur Farmers Producers Company in 2016. Her work in mushroom farming has helped many rural women find jobs and gain financial independence.

– Ajaita Shah: As the founder and CEO of Frontier Markets, Ajaita empowers over 35,000 women in rural areas, helping them become successful business owners and connect their communities to needed goods and services.

– Elina Mishra and Shilpi Soni: These two scientists, Elina from Mumbai and Shilpi from ISRO, are doing important research. They took over PM Modi’s social media accounts together to share their stories.

Prime Minister Modi praised these women for their hard work and success, calling them examples of the brighter future that women can help create in India. He wrote on social media, “They remind us of the endless possibilities women have. We celebrate their achievements today and every day!”

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned about the rising obesity rates in India, mentioning a report that says nearly 440 million people could be obese by 2050. He called this number “huge and scary” and stressed the need for action to address this health crisis.

During his two-day visit to Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, PM Modi inaugurated projects worth ₹2,587 crore. He also launched a new food security campaign in Surat to help people access better nutrition.

Speaking at rallies in Silvassa and Surat, Modi pointed out that obesity can lead to many health problems. He encouraged everyone to exercise regularly and cut down on edible oil by 10%. “Lifestyle-related diseases are a big risk today, and obesity is the main cause of many of these problems,” Modi said. He warned that if things don’t change, one in three people could be obese by 2050, which poses a serious threat to public health.

The Prime Minister urged everyone to buy 10% less oil and engage in physical activities like cycling to help reduce obesity. He also announced plans to open 25,000 new Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country, where affordable medicines will be available. He mentioned that middle-class and low-income families have saved around ₹30,000 crore by buying medicines from these government centers.

Modi encouraged residents to work together to develop the Union Territory, comparing it to the transformation of Singapore from a fishing village to a modern city. He believes that if the people are committed, great changes can happen.

During this visit, he inaugurated several important projects, including a 450-bed hospital in Silvassa and new facilities in Diu and Daman. After his work in Silvassa, he went to Surat to talk about the new food security campaign and to address the people there.

Modi also took a jab at the Congress party, saying that those with no power might have problems understanding the ₹32 lakh crore in loans given out under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, which aims to help small businesses.

Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has applied to give up his Indian passport at the High Commission in London. He has also become a citizen of Vanuatu, a small island country in the South Pacific. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India confirmed this news and stated that they are aware of his move.

The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, mentioned that they are still working on all legal cases against Modi. “We will look into this application following the rules,” he said. Modi has faced serious accusations, including cheating, money laundering, and breaking foreign exchange laws.

He used to be the Vice-President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and was suspended shortly after the IPL in 2010. He left India that same year and has been living in London since then. The BCCI claims that Modia defrauded them of a huge amount—753 crore rupees—through dishonest actions with certain officials of the World Sports Group.

Karnataka actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3 for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai. After her arrest, a photo showing her with swollen eyes and bruises started spreading on social media. This raised questions about whether she was treated badly while in custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

The chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, Nagalakshmi Chaudhary, responded to concerns about Ranya’s condition. She said they cannot investigate unless Ranya files an official complaint. Chaudhary strongly condemned any violence against Ranya, emphasizing that no one should ever be assaulted.

She stated that if Ranya decides to file a complaint, the commission will look into it and help her. For now, without a complaint, they can’t take any action.

Meanwhile, Ranya is in DRI custody for three days, as the agency wants to check where the smuggled gold came from and who was supposed to receive it. They mentioned possible connections to “anti-national activities.”

On Friday, Amit Shah, India’s Union Home Minister, praised Tamil culture, language, and traditions, emphasizing they are a vital part of India’s identity. He spoke at the 56th raising day parade of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in Thakkolam.

Shah highlighted that the whole country recognizes the importance of Tamil language and culture, especially during discussions about federalism and language identity in Tamil Nadu. This state has a history of resisting the push for Hindi and has fought for the pride of the Tamil language since the 1900s, wanting more control over how their language is used in schools and government.

During his speech, Shah announced the CISF training center will be renamed after the brave Chola warrior, Rajaditya Chola. He expressed his admiration for Rajaditya, saying he dedicated his life to protecting his culture and shared tales of bravery from the Chola kingdom.

Shah also hopes Tamil Nadu will join other states in offering medical and engineering courses in their own language. He believes this will help the Tamil people connect more with their roots and provide equal opportunities. He encouraged the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to make this vision a reality, noting that no steps have been taken yet towards this goal.