April 20, 2026

PM Modi (PTI image) KOLKATA: PM Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on Trinamool Congress, declaring in rallies across Bengal that “mothers and sisters” would punish it for stymying the women’s reservation bill and urging voters to deliver “maha-punishment” to what he called “maha-jungleraj”, reports Rohit Khanna. Addressing four rallies in six hours Sunday — Bankura’s Barjora, Purulia, Jhargram and Midnapore — before the April 23 phase of the assembly polls, Modi accused TMC and Congress of “conspiring” against women. “Women’s welfare is Modi’s guarantee,” he said, alleging TMC is “maa virodhi (opposed to mothers)”.Trinamool has deceived Bengal’s daughters, who wanted 33% reservation to be implemented from 2029. Modi tried to implement that. If women join the legislature in large numbers, they will speak for their rights. TMC thinks woman MLAs from villages and districts will make them accountable for their misdeeds,” the prime minister said, adding the party “connived with Congress” to block amendments. A brief stop at a jhalmuri shop in Jhargram during the campaign leg drew attention online as BJP pushed for a last-mile voter connect. Modi outlined welfare promises, saying pregnant women would get Rs 21,000 and Rs 5,000 after childbirth, cervical cancer vaccination would be free, and medicines would be available at steep discounts through Jan Aushadhi outlets.Also Read | ‘Do you eat onions?’ PM Modi takes ‘jhalmuri break’ during Bengal poll campaign – watch He also spoke of an annual Rs 36,000 support for women, free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh and dialysis in govt hospitals. Modi accused Trinamool of seeking religion-based reservation. “Muslims are being brought within the ambit of reservation for other backward classes. This is against the Constitution,” he said. He also warned of “infiltration”, saying Bengal risked losing its identity. “Trinamool’s agenda is dangerous. It wants to establish a govt of infiltrators, which will protect religion and language of infiltrators,” he said. Targeting the party on tribal outreach, he alleged it is following the tactic employed by “Nehru to defeat Babasaheb Ambedkar”. The PM said: “BJP nominated the country’s first tribal woman President. Trinamool put up a candidate against her. They played a game to prevent a tribal woman from becoming President.” He alleged tribal districts lagged under Trinamool and land was being usurped by “syndicates”.About the AuthorRohit KhannaRohit Khanna covers sectors like government finance, economy, industry and issues related to financial crime.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
PM Modi (PTI image) KOLKATA: PM Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on Trinamool Congress, declaring in rallies across Bengal that “mothers and sisters” would punish it for stymying the women’s reservation bill and urging voters to deliver “maha-punishment” to what he called “maha-jungleraj”, reports Rohit Khanna. Addressing four rallies in six hours Sunday — Bankura’s Barjora, Purulia, Jhargram and Midnapore — before the April 23 phase of the assembly polls, Modi accused TMC and Congress of “conspiring” against women. “Women’s welfare is Modi’s guarantee,” he said, alleging TMC is “maa virodhi (opposed to mothers)”.Trinamool has deceived Bengal’s daughters, who wanted 33% reservation to be implemented from 2029. Modi tried to implement that. If women join the legislature in large numbers, they will speak for their rights. TMC thinks woman MLAs from villages and districts will make them accountable for their misdeeds,” the prime minister said, adding the party “connived with Congress” to block amendments. A brief stop at a jhalmuri shop in Jhargram during the campaign leg drew attention online as BJP pushed for a last-mile voter connect. Modi outlined welfare promises, saying pregnant women would get Rs 21,000 and Rs 5,000 after childbirth, cervical cancer vaccination would be free, and medicines would be available at steep discounts through Jan Aushadhi outlets.Also Read | ‘Do you eat onions?’ PM Modi takes ‘jhalmuri break’ during Bengal poll campaign – watch He also spoke of an annual Rs 36,000 support for women, free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh and dialysis in govt hospitals. Modi accused Trinamool of seeking religion-based reservation. “Muslims are being brought within the ambit of reservation for other backward classes. This is against the Constitution,” he said. He also warned of “infiltration”, saying Bengal risked losing its identity. “Trinamool’s agenda is dangerous. It wants to establish a govt of infiltrators, which will protect religion and language of infiltrators,” he said. Targeting the party on tribal outreach, he alleged it is following the tactic employed by “Nehru to defeat Babasaheb Ambedkar”. The PM said: “BJP nominated the country’s first tribal woman President. Trinamool put up a candidate against her. They played a game to prevent a tribal woman from becoming President.” He alleged tribal districts lagged under Trinamool and land was being usurped by “syndicates”.About the AuthorRohit KhannaRohit Khanna covers sectors like government finance, economy, industry and issues related to financial crime.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event


TMC will get ‘maha-punishment’ from mothers and sisters: PM Modi

KOLKATA: PM Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on Trinamool Congress, declaring in rallies across Bengal that “mothers and sisters” would punish it for stymying the women’s reservation bill and urging voters to deliver “maha-punishment” to what he called “maha-jungleraj”, reports Rohit Khanna. Addressing four rallies in six hours Sunday — Bankura’s Barjora, Purulia, Jhargram and Midnapore — before the April 23 phase of the assembly polls, Modi accused TMC and Congress of “conspiring” against women. “Women’s welfare is Modi’s guarantee,” he said, alleging TMC is “maa virodhi (opposed to mothers)”.Trinamool has deceived Bengal’s daughters, who wanted 33% reservation to be implemented from 2029. Modi tried to implement that. If women join the legislature in large numbers, they will speak for their rights. TMC thinks woman MLAs from villages and districts will make them accountable for their misdeeds,” the prime minister said, adding the party “connived with Congress” to block amendments. A brief stop at a jhalmuri shop in Jhargram during the campaign leg drew attention online as BJP pushed for a last-mile voter connect. Modi outlined welfare promises, saying pregnant women would get Rs 21,000 and Rs 5,000 after childbirth, cervical cancer vaccination would be free, and medicines would be available at steep discounts through Jan Aushadhi outlets.Also Read | ‘Do you eat onions?’ PM Modi takes ‘jhalmuri break’ during Bengal poll campaign – watch He also spoke of an annual Rs 36,000 support for women, free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh and dialysis in govt hospitals. Modi accused Trinamool of seeking religion-based reservation. “Muslims are being brought within the ambit of reservation for other backward classes. This is against the Constitution,” he said. He also warned of “infiltration”, saying Bengal risked losing its identity. “Trinamool’s agenda is dangerous. It wants to establish a govt of infiltrators, which will protect religion and language of infiltrators,” he said. Targeting the party on tribal outreach, he alleged it is following the tactic employed by “Nehru to defeat Babasaheb Ambedkar”. The PM said: “BJP nominated the country’s first tribal woman President. Trinamool put up a candidate against her. They played a game to prevent a tribal woman from becoming President.” He alleged tribal districts lagged under Trinamool and land was being usurped by “syndicates”.



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. Defending her bastion of West Bengal for the fourth time to extend her term by another five years to 20 years was never meant to be easy for Mamata Banerjee. She was up against a formidable challenger, the Bharatiya Janata Party, its redoubtable election-winning organisation and bottomless resources and its star campaigner, Narendra Modi.For five years from 2021, Banerjee had been preparing for the fight to unseat her. Incidents that brought people spontaneously out into the streets like the rape and murder of a junior doctor working at the staterun R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, the rape of a student inside the college premises in Kasba, in south Kolkata, metres from the police station and a continuous flow of incidents of violence against women in rural areas had resulted in a spike in the prevailing discontent. She may have hit the streets to demand justice for the R G Kar victim, but that did not cut ice with voters nursing anti-incumbency sentiments. .In the regular course, Trinamool Congress should have been in the dock over its performance as a govt. Mamata Banerjee has been chief minister for 15 years. Anti-incumbency should have been the principal issue.Things changed. Instead of being a challenger, BJP metamorphosed into an oppressor, after the countrywide crackdown on ghuspaithiyas — illegal Bengali-speaking immigrants, presumed to be infiltrators from Bangladesh. The arrests, even deportation of some to Bangladesh, where they were stranded and harassed, angered Bengalis, regardless of whether they were Banerjee loyalists, or veering to the BJP, because it was the only alternative against the dominance and abuse of power of the Trinamool Congress in everyday lived experiences.The stunning declaration that Bengali was not a language, and Delhi Police’s search for a translator of the “Bangladeshi language” was perceived as an assault on the cultural identity, pride and history of Bengalis. BJP, in Bengali perception, became the party involved in the assault, attacking the idea of Bengalihood: eating fish and meat on days that were considered significant to the codes of Sanatan Dharma.The 2026 Bengal state assembly election was not meant to be a regular election. It was designed to be a once-and-for-all confrontation, an exercise in purification of the inflated numbers of ineligible voters, identifiable as Bengali-speaking — but mostly Muslim — infiltrators from Bangladesh, who had been given sanctuary by the Trinamool Congress after 2011, when it was first voted in. The Election Commission issued warnings, even as it kicked off the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar in June 2025, that Bengal would be next.What was deep-seated resentment among a very large and mixed section of voters over CM Banerjee’s Muslim “appeasement” politics seems to have been buried by the SIR-adjudication-deletion process. Even her temple construction zeal — the Jagannath Dham in Digha in BJP leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s backyard, or her laying the foundation for a Mahakaal temple in Siliguri, seems to have faded from the public sphere. SIR has become a personal issue for an overwhelming number of voters, those adversely impacted and others who are upset over the process of “othering” neighbours, friends, colleagues and acquaintances, because one in 10 people has been deleted or put under adjudication by the EC.Instead, the political discourse acquired a new classification of voters labelled “under adjudication”, and that has got so complicated that the Supreme Court took the extraordinary step of invoking Article 142 of the Constitution, which grants it the power to “pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it”, because 34.45 lakh people were being denied the fundamental right to exercise their choice through casting their vote in the Bengal election, following SIR. The EC’s decision to freeze electoral rolls without carrying out hearings has been overturned — which Banerjee has promptly appropriated as ‘her victory’ on behalf of the people.BJP’s blind defence of the SIR exercise as a necessary intensive and customised process to verify the citizenship status of all voters, ghuspaithiyas and eligible citizens, left its core voters stranded in several districts, adding up to over 70 constituencies, including the Matuas, a Schedule Caste community that fled in large numbers after 1971. The purpose of SIR, as Union home minister Amit Shah declared in Parliament, was “Detect, delete, deport”.SIR seems to have overtaken anti-incumbency as the principal issue in this election. The reason is simple: the effect of SIR is that 91 lakh voters have been either deleted or put under adjudication, that is just under 12%; and the number of voters has declined to 6.44 crore from 7.08 crore. The election has turned into a confrontation between Trinamool Congress and the EC on the one hand, and Trinamool Congress and BJP on the other. As the only party that has consistently supported the SIR process and the EC’s implementation, even after the Supreme Court invoked Article 142 for the purpose of “doing complete justice”, in the perception of large numbers of voters, the EC and the BJP are interchangeable entities.Discontent that can be generalised as anti-incumbency exists. There is also widespread satisfaction, especially among women, because Banerjee is perceived as one who caters to their needs, through direct cash transfer programmes like the Lakshmir Bhandar and Swasthya Sathi cashless healthcare services. This loyalty is not transactional; it cannot be bought off by doubling the cash transfer as promised by BJP under the renamed Lakshmir Bhandar, the Matri Shakti Bharosa Scheme. The disproportionate deletions of 57 lakh women from the electoral roll cuts into Banerjee’s most loyal vote bank, since over 50% of women have voted for her in preceding elections. It may trigger the swing away from her to BJP, as the alternative.The difference between 2021 and now is that Trinamool is no longer haemorrhaging as it was then; the spate of defections to BJP in 2021 has ended. There has been a reverse flow from BJP to the Trinamool over the past five years, the most recent and significant being Adhikari’s close aide Pabitra Kar, who is also a Trinamool candidate from Nandigram.Instead of being a challenger offering a better alternative, BJP — with its double-engine model and its campaign on “zero tolerance for ghuspaithiyas ” — has become the party that aims to serve Bengal by prioritising the rounding up of infiltrators from Bangladesh, the majority of whom are Muslims in its estimate, and deporting them. As the campaign has progressed, the home minister has made it clear that once the election is over, every ineligible voter, deleted by the tribunal set up on the orders of Supreme Court, will be deported.When the context for a state election is about legacy issues carried over after momentous changes in India’s neighbourhood and not a straightforward contest between competing political parties about better governance, politics becomes a competition in striking the most resonant sentimental chords. The question is, has BJP been able to frame Trinamool as the last and worst perpetrator of legitimising, on a large scale, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, or has Trinamool nailed BJP for being “anti-Bengali”? The new variable in the electoral fight is the home-grown Indian Secular Front, which won one seat in 2021. The party is now contesting in over 30 seats and expects to shave off Muslim and Dalit votes, which it can do only at Trinamool’s cost.The principal rivals, Trinamool Congress and BJP, have positioned themselves as champions of Bengali nationhood. In BJP’s version, the Bengali nation needs to be cleansed of Muslims from Bangladesh, who have been illegally granted sanctuary and pose a threat to the Hindu majority. In Trinamool’s version, the idea of Bengal/India, shaped by generations of Bengali nationalist leaders, who contributed to the narrative and politics of the freedom struggle, needs to be defended against distortions and mutations that destroy its essence as secular, inclusive and custodian of that imagined space where “streams of humans” end up mingling in the ocean of great humanity.The Trinamool Congress slogans in the 2026 election are assertions of how “Bangla” is the victim and how it shall triumph: “ Jataoi koro hamla, abar jitbe Bangla (No matter how many attacks, Bengal will win)” is the war cry. By positioning herself as the champion of Bangla’s identity, which includes its cultural pride in being plural and inclusive, Banerjee hopes to make sentiment work in her favour, burying the entirely valid discontent that has grown against her local leadership at the grassroots in urban and rural areas.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123PhotostoriesHow to get rid of rats naturally without killing them: Safe home and garden solutions5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcements123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event

. Defending her bastion of West Bengal for the fourth time to extend her term by another five years to 20 years was never meant to be easy for Mamata Banerjee. She was up against a formidable challenger, the Bharatiya Janata Party, its redoubtable election-winning organisation and bottomless resources and its star campaigner, Narendra Modi.For five years from 2021, Banerjee had been preparing for the fight to unseat her. Incidents that brought people spontaneously out into the streets like the rape and murder of a junior doctor working at the staterun R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, the rape of a student inside the college premises in Kasba, in south Kolkata, metres from the police station and a continuous flow of incidents of violence against women in rural areas had resulted in a spike in the prevailing discontent. She may have hit the streets to demand justice for the R G Kar victim, but that did not cut ice with voters nursing anti-incumbency sentiments. .In the regular course, Trinamool Congress should have been in the dock over its performance as a govt. Mamata Banerjee has been chief minister for 15 years. Anti-incumbency should have been the principal issue.Things changed. Instead of being a challenger, BJP metamorphosed into an oppressor, after the countrywide crackdown on ghuspaithiyas — illegal Bengali-speaking immigrants, presumed to be infiltrators from Bangladesh. The arrests, even deportation of some to Bangladesh, where they were stranded and harassed, angered Bengalis, regardless of whether they were Banerjee loyalists, or veering to the BJP, because it was the only alternative against the dominance and abuse of power of the Trinamool Congress in everyday lived experiences.The stunning declaration that Bengali was not a language, and Delhi Police’s search for a translator of the “Bangladeshi language” was perceived as an assault on the cultural identity, pride and history of Bengalis. BJP, in Bengali perception, became the party involved in the assault, attacking the idea of Bengalihood: eating fish and meat on days that were considered significant to the codes of Sanatan Dharma.The 2026 Bengal state assembly election was not meant to be a regular election. It was designed to be a once-and-for-all confrontation, an exercise in purification of the inflated numbers of ineligible voters, identifiable as Bengali-speaking — but mostly Muslim — infiltrators from Bangladesh, who had been given sanctuary by the Trinamool Congress after 2011, when it was first voted in. The Election Commission issued warnings, even as it kicked off the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar in June 2025, that Bengal would be next.What was deep-seated resentment among a very large and mixed section of voters over CM Banerjee’s Muslim “appeasement” politics seems to have been buried by the SIR-adjudication-deletion process. Even her temple construction zeal — the Jagannath Dham in Digha in BJP leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s backyard, or her laying the foundation for a Mahakaal temple in Siliguri, seems to have faded from the public sphere. SIR has become a personal issue for an overwhelming number of voters, those adversely impacted and others who are upset over the process of “othering” neighbours, friends, colleagues and acquaintances, because one in 10 people has been deleted or put under adjudication by the EC.Instead, the political discourse acquired a new classification of voters labelled “under adjudication”, and that has got so complicated that the Supreme Court took the extraordinary step of invoking Article 142 of the Constitution, which grants it the power to “pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it”, because 34.45 lakh people were being denied the fundamental right to exercise their choice through casting their vote in the Bengal election, following SIR. The EC’s decision to freeze electoral rolls without carrying out hearings has been overturned — which Banerjee has promptly appropriated as ‘her victory’ on behalf of the people.BJP’s blind defence of the SIR exercise as a necessary intensive and customised process to verify the citizenship status of all voters, ghuspaithiyas and eligible citizens, left its core voters stranded in several districts, adding up to over 70 constituencies, including the Matuas, a Schedule Caste community that fled in large numbers after 1971. The purpose of SIR, as Union home minister Amit Shah declared in Parliament, was “Detect, delete, deport”.SIR seems to have overtaken anti-incumbency as the principal issue in this election. The reason is simple: the effect of SIR is that 91 lakh voters have been either deleted or put under adjudication, that is just under 12%; and the number of voters has declined to 6.44 crore from 7.08 crore. The election has turned into a confrontation between Trinamool Congress and the EC on the one hand, and Trinamool Congress and BJP on the other. As the only party that has consistently supported the SIR process and the EC’s implementation, even after the Supreme Court invoked Article 142 for the purpose of “doing complete justice”, in the perception of large numbers of voters, the EC and the BJP are interchangeable entities.Discontent that can be generalised as anti-incumbency exists. There is also widespread satisfaction, especially among women, because Banerjee is perceived as one who caters to their needs, through direct cash transfer programmes like the Lakshmir Bhandar and Swasthya Sathi cashless healthcare services. This loyalty is not transactional; it cannot be bought off by doubling the cash transfer as promised by BJP under the renamed Lakshmir Bhandar, the Matri Shakti Bharosa Scheme. The disproportionate deletions of 57 lakh women from the electoral roll cuts into Banerjee’s most loyal vote bank, since over 50% of women have voted for her in preceding elections. It may trigger the swing away from her to BJP, as the alternative.The difference between 2021 and now is that Trinamool is no longer haemorrhaging as it was then; the spate of defections to BJP in 2021 has ended. There has been a reverse flow from BJP to the Trinamool over the past five years, the most recent and significant being Adhikari’s close aide Pabitra Kar, who is also a Trinamool candidate from Nandigram.Instead of being a challenger offering a better alternative, BJP — with its double-engine model and its campaign on “zero tolerance for ghuspaithiyas ” — has become the party that aims to serve Bengal by prioritising the rounding up of infiltrators from Bangladesh, the majority of whom are Muslims in its estimate, and deporting them. As the campaign has progressed, the home minister has made it clear that once the election is over, every ineligible voter, deleted by the tribunal set up on the orders of Supreme Court, will be deported.When the context for a state election is about legacy issues carried over after momentous changes in India’s neighbourhood and not a straightforward contest between competing political parties about better governance, politics becomes a competition in striking the most resonant sentimental chords. The question is, has BJP been able to frame Trinamool as the last and worst perpetrator of legitimising, on a large scale, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, or has Trinamool nailed BJP for being “anti-Bengali”? The new variable in the electoral fight is the home-grown Indian Secular Front, which won one seat in 2021. The party is now contesting in over 30 seats and expects to shave off Muslim and Dalit votes, which it can do only at Trinamool’s cost.The principal rivals, Trinamool Congress and BJP, have positioned themselves as champions of Bengali nationhood. In BJP’s version, the Bengali nation needs to be cleansed of Muslims from Bangladesh, who have been illegally granted sanctuary and pose a threat to the Hindu majority. In Trinamool’s version, the idea of Bengal/India, shaped by generations of Bengali nationalist leaders, who contributed to the narrative and politics of the freedom struggle, needs to be defended against distortions and mutations that destroy its essence as secular, inclusive and custodian of that imagined space where “streams of humans” end up mingling in the ocean of great humanity.The Trinamool Congress slogans in the 2026 election are assertions of how “Bangla” is the victim and how it shall triumph: “ Jataoi koro hamla, abar jitbe Bangla (No matter how many attacks, Bengal will win)” is the war cry. By positioning herself as the champion of Bangla’s identity, which includes its cultural pride in being plural and inclusive, Banerjee hopes to make sentiment work in her favour, burying the entirely valid discontent that has grown against her local leadership at the grassroots in urban and rural areas.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123PhotostoriesHow to get rid of rats naturally without killing them: Safe home and garden solutions5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcements123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event

Vamsikrishna 0
. NEW DELHI: As the first contingent of pilgrims embarked on Haj to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the overall data shows that as many as 5,446 Muslim women will be travelling as “Ladies Without Mehram” (male companion) for the pilgrimage, with Kerala taking the lead again accounting for 4,477 women in this category.This is the largest contingent of women in the LWM category since 2018 when policy changes for the first time enabled Muslim women aged 45 years and above, who wish to go for Haj but do not have a male Mehram and their ‘school of thought’ (Maslak) permits, are allowed to travel in groups of four or more. Single women in the same age group can also apply.This year a total of 1,75,025 pilgrims are expected to undertake the Haj pilgrimage. Out of the total quota for the Government of India (GoI), 70% has been allocated to the Haj Committee of India and 30% to Haj Group Organisers.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123PhotostoriesHow to get rid of rats naturally without killing them: Safe home and garden solutions5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcements123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event

. NEW DELHI: As the first contingent of pilgrims embarked on Haj to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the overall data shows that as many as 5,446 Muslim women will be travelling as “Ladies Without Mehram” (male companion) for the pilgrimage, with Kerala taking the lead again accounting for 4,477 women in this category.This is the largest contingent of women in the LWM category since 2018 when policy changes for the first time enabled Muslim women aged 45 years and above, who wish to go for Haj but do not have a male Mehram and their ‘school of thought’ (Maslak) permits, are allowed to travel in groups of four or more. Single women in the same age group can also apply.This year a total of 1,75,025 pilgrims are expected to undertake the Haj pilgrimage. Out of the total quota for the Government of India (GoI), 70% has been allocated to the Haj Committee of India and 30% to Haj Group Organisers.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123PhotostoriesHow to get rid of rats naturally without killing them: Safe home and garden solutions5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcements123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung As he arrived in India for a State visit, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Koreas and India must work closely as emerging global leaders amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, and that the 2 countries can give a new direction to multilateralism when it’s faced with mounting challenges. In an exclusive interview to TOI, Lee said while Korea exemplified remarkable economic growth under the multilateral trading system, India stood well placed to shape new global rules with its economic scale and dynamism. On China’s dominance in critical minerals, Lee said that reducing excessive dependence on any single country had become a matter of survival, directly linked to the economic security of both India and South Korea. Speaking on the Hormuz crisis, the president said that ensuring the security of critical maritime routes is essential for the survival of both nations and Korea will work together to ensure freedom of navigation in the key energy waterway. With focus now on defence industrial collaboration, the president said Seoul will fully back India’s “independent production” of defence equipment, while exploring joint technology development and coproduction. IIn an exclusive interview to Sachin Parashar and Alpyu Singh, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shared his vision for the special strategic partnership with India in key areas like trade, technology, critical minerals, defence and ship-building in which Seoul is a global leader. Excerpts: This is your first visit to India as president. How do you hope to further strengthen the special strategic partnership with India in the current circumstances, especially in key areas like trade, and critical and emerging technology? India – the world’s most populous country, the fourth-largest economy, and a leading voice of the Global South – is an ideal partner for the Republic of Korea. Our partnership rests not only on highly complementary economies, but also on shared core values of democracy and a market economy. At a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty and mounting challenges to multilateralism, it is more imperative than ever that Korea and India work closely together as emerging global leaders. Building on our Special Strategic Partnership, we will deepen comprehensive ties of cooperation that drives mutual growth and innovation, while expanding our strategic horizons. A key priority is accelerating negotiations to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Beyond traditional sectors such as electronics and automobiles, we will broaden cooperation into shipbuilding, finance, and the defense industry, bringing to life the vision of “Make in India, Together with Korea.” We will also step up collaboration in AI and digital technologies. Korea’s, world-class AI infrastructure and India’s vast pool of AI talent make us natural partners. Together, we will actively identify projects that generate meaningful synergy. At the same time, we will further expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the enduring foundation of our relationship. By bringing together India’s rich cultural assets, exemplified by Bollywood, and Korea’s globally influential K-Culture, we aim to create even greater synergy. Since my first meeting with PM Modi in Canada in June last year, I have felt a genuine warmth and familiarity, as if reconnecting with an old friend. I believe in our shared commitment to people-centered politics, holding on to hope even in times of adversity. It’s therefore especially meaningful, and a great pleasure, for me to visit India and meet PM Modi again. I am confident that this visit will mark an important milestone in further strengthening the friendship and trust between our two nations. Like India, South Korea is heavily dependent on safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz for its energy needs. How can both countries work together to aid efforts to keep the key energy route open and minimise the impact of the West Asia crisis on global economy and energy security, as well as to de-risk supply chains globally? Both the Republic of Korea and India depend on the Middle East for a significant share of their energy supplies, including crude oil and natural gas. Accordingly, ensuring the security of critical maritime routes is essential to the safety of our peoples and the very survival of our nations. Korea will maintain close communication with India to ensure that all vessels can navigate the Strait of Hormuz safely and freely. We will also continue to work together in relevant international forums to uphold this shared commitment. Another task that our two countries must undertake together is diversifying energy supply chains. Amid growing uncertainties in the global economy, I am confident that forward-looking and strategic cooperation between Korea and India can substantially further our shared national interests. The strategic defence partnership has been strengthened by the co-production of K9 Vajra howitzers. How do you propose to take this partnership forward, especially in terms of technology-sharing that could boost India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative? The Republic of Korea fully supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It is a plan of significant industrial and economic potential, and I am confident that it will certainly be realized thanks to PM Modi’s steadfast commitment.However, self-reliance is difficult to achieve entirely on one’s own. Korea’s rapid industrial development and economic growth were made possible through considerable support and assistance from partner countries. In this regard, Korea seeks to serve as India’s key partner in advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. In particular, the K9 Vajra howitzer project stands as an exemplary case of our bilateral defense and defense industry cooperation. The contract for the second phase of the K9 Vajra project, signed in April last year, provides for more than 60 percent of the manufacturing process to be carried out in India. It is currently being implemented smoothly, as planned. Building on such examples of cooperation, Korea will continue to provide full support for India’s independent production and operation of defense equipment. Moreover, we will discuss various avenues of cooperation in joint technology development and coproduction as well as operations and maintenance, so that both countries’ defense industry ecosystems can advance together. Both countries are exploring opportunities for cooperation in critical energy transition minerals – amid global efforts for resource diversification to avoid reliance on China – and also in areas like the maritime sector and shipbuilding in which South Korea is a global leader. Is there any roadmap that you have in mind for a more result-oriented partnership in these areas? With global supply chains undergoing reconfiguration, reducing excessive dependence on any single country has become a matter of survival, directly linked to the economic security of both nations. In particular, securing critical minerals, which are essential for cutting-edge industries, and stabilizing the maritime logistics networks for those resources will be key factors in national competitiveness going forward. India possesses critical minerals, while Korea has the capabilities to manufacture them into rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles and other advanced products. This makes our two countries ideal partners for generating synergy. By moving beyond the traditional model of importing raw material and combining Korea’s technology with India’s mining and refining industries, we can work together to establish stable critical-mineral supply chains. There is also boundless potential for bilateral cooperation in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors. For India to emerge as a global logistics and manufacturing hub, securing shipbuilding and maritime transport capabilities is essential. With world-class expertise in shipbuilding and shipping, as well as extensive experience in overseas port projects, Korea is well positioned to become India’s foremost partner. I understand that relevant MOUs are expected to be signed during the upcoming visit. I look forward to the day when vessels jointly built by our two countries sail across the world’s oceans. Now that there are question marks about the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific under President Trump – and with Washington’s focus shifting also to West Asia – how do you propose to work with like-minded countries to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific? The world today faces complex and multi-layered crises. We are in a time of profound upheaval, as rising protectionism and the restructuring of global supply chains unsettle the foundation of the existing international order. The war in the Middle East has underscored the strategic reality that the Indian and Pacific Oceans form a single, interconnected maritime space – one whose stability no country can secure alone. Despite its intense dynamism and vast potential, the Indo-Pacific, has long remained more a beneficiary than a shaper of the international order, constrained by geopolitical tensions and the lack of institutional frameworks, Today, however, regional countries, including Korea, have the capacity to lead in strengthening multilateralism and advancing a rules-based order. End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123PhotostoriesHow to get rid of rats naturally without killing them: Safe home and garden solutions5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcements123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung As he arrived in India for a State visit, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Koreas and India must work closely as emerging global leaders amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, and that the 2 countries can give a new direction to multilateralism when it’s faced with mounting challenges. In an exclusive interview to TOI, Lee said while Korea exemplified remarkable economic growth under the multilateral trading system, India stood well placed to shape new global rules with its economic scale and dynamism. On China’s dominance in critical minerals, Lee said that reducing excessive dependence on any single country had become a matter of survival, directly linked to the economic security of both India and South Korea. Speaking on the Hormuz crisis, the president said that ensuring the security of critical maritime routes is essential for the survival of both nations and Korea will work together to ensure freedom of navigation in the key energy waterway. With focus now on defence industrial collaboration, the president said Seoul will fully back India’s “independent production” of defence equipment, while exploring joint technology development and coproduction. IIn an exclusive interview to Sachin Parashar and Alpyu Singh, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shared his vision for the special strategic partnership with India in key areas like trade, technology, critical minerals, defence and ship-building in which Seoul is a global leader. Excerpts: This is your first visit to India as president. How do you hope to further strengthen the special strategic partnership with India in the current circumstances, especially in key areas like trade, and critical and emerging technology? India – the world’s most populous country, the fourth-largest economy, and a leading voice of the Global South – is an ideal partner for the Republic of Korea. Our partnership rests not only on highly complementary economies, but also on shared core values of democracy and a market economy. At a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty and mounting challenges to multilateralism, it is more imperative than ever that Korea and India work closely together as emerging global leaders. Building on our Special Strategic Partnership, we will deepen comprehensive ties of cooperation that drives mutual growth and innovation, while expanding our strategic horizons. A key priority is accelerating negotiations to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Beyond traditional sectors such as electronics and automobiles, we will broaden cooperation into shipbuilding, finance, and the defense industry, bringing to life the vision of “Make in India, Together with Korea.” We will also step up collaboration in AI and digital technologies. Korea’s, world-class AI infrastructure and India’s vast pool of AI talent make us natural partners. Together, we will actively identify projects that generate meaningful synergy. At the same time, we will further expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the enduring foundation of our relationship. By bringing together India’s rich cultural assets, exemplified by Bollywood, and Korea’s globally influential K-Culture, we aim to create even greater synergy. Since my first meeting with PM Modi in Canada in June last year, I have felt a genuine warmth and familiarity, as if reconnecting with an old friend. I believe in our shared commitment to people-centered politics, holding on to hope even in times of adversity. It’s therefore especially meaningful, and a great pleasure, for me to visit India and meet PM Modi again. I am confident that this visit will mark an important milestone in further strengthening the friendship and trust between our two nations. Like India, South Korea is heavily dependent on safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz for its energy needs. How can both countries work together to aid efforts to keep the key energy route open and minimise the impact of the West Asia crisis on global economy and energy security, as well as to de-risk supply chains globally? Both the Republic of Korea and India depend on the Middle East for a significant share of their energy supplies, including crude oil and natural gas. Accordingly, ensuring the security of critical maritime routes is essential to the safety of our peoples and the very survival of our nations. Korea will maintain close communication with India to ensure that all vessels can navigate the Strait of Hormuz safely and freely. We will also continue to work together in relevant international forums to uphold this shared commitment. Another task that our two countries must undertake together is diversifying energy supply chains. Amid growing uncertainties in the global economy, I am confident that forward-looking and strategic cooperation between Korea and India can substantially further our shared national interests. The strategic defence partnership has been strengthened by the co-production of K9 Vajra howitzers. How do you propose to take this partnership forward, especially in terms of technology-sharing that could boost India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative? The Republic of Korea fully supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It is a plan of significant industrial and economic potential, and I am confident that it will certainly be realized thanks to PM Modi’s steadfast commitment.However, self-reliance is difficult to achieve entirely on one’s own. Korea’s rapid industrial development and economic growth were made possible through considerable support and assistance from partner countries. In this regard, Korea seeks to serve as India’s key partner in advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. In particular, the K9 Vajra howitzer project stands as an exemplary case of our bilateral defense and defense industry cooperation. The contract for the second phase of the K9 Vajra project, signed in April last year, provides for more than 60 percent of the manufacturing process to be carried out in India. It is currently being implemented smoothly, as planned. Building on such examples of cooperation, Korea will continue to provide full support for India’s independent production and operation of defense equipment. Moreover, we will discuss various avenues of cooperation in joint technology development and coproduction as well as operations and maintenance, so that both countries’ defense industry ecosystems can advance together. Both countries are exploring opportunities for cooperation in critical energy transition minerals – amid global efforts for resource diversification to avoid reliance on China – and also in areas like the maritime sector and shipbuilding in which South Korea is a global leader. Is there any roadmap that you have in mind for a more result-oriented partnership in these areas? With global supply chains undergoing reconfiguration, reducing excessive dependence on any single country has become a matter of survival, directly linked to the economic security of both nations. In particular, securing critical minerals, which are essential for cutting-edge industries, and stabilizing the maritime logistics networks for those resources will be key factors in national competitiveness going forward. India possesses critical minerals, while Korea has the capabilities to manufacture them into rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles and other advanced products. This makes our two countries ideal partners for generating synergy. By moving beyond the traditional model of importing raw material and combining Korea’s technology with India’s mining and refining industries, we can work together to establish stable critical-mineral supply chains. There is also boundless potential for bilateral cooperation in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors. For India to emerge as a global logistics and manufacturing hub, securing shipbuilding and maritime transport capabilities is essential. With world-class expertise in shipbuilding and shipping, as well as extensive experience in overseas port projects, Korea is well positioned to become India’s foremost partner. I understand that relevant MOUs are expected to be signed during the upcoming visit. I look forward to the day when vessels jointly built by our two countries sail across the world’s oceans. Now that there are question marks about the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific under President Trump – and with Washington’s focus shifting also to West Asia – how do you propose to work with like-minded countries to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific? The world today faces complex and multi-layered crises. We are in a time of profound upheaval, as rising protectionism and the restructuring of global supply chains unsettle the foundation of the existing international order. The war in the Middle East has underscored the strategic reality that the Indian and Pacific Oceans form a single, interconnected maritime space – one whose stability no country can secure alone. Despite its intense dynamism and vast potential, the Indo-Pacific, has long remained more a beneficiary than a shaper of the international order, constrained by geopolitical tensions and the lack of institutional frameworks, Today, however, regional countries, including Korea, have the capacity to lead in strengthening multilateralism and advancing a rules-based order. End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123PhotostoriesHow to get rid of rats naturally without killing them: Safe home and garden solutions5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missWhy it’s so hard to end long-term relationships as per science, therapist revealsBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcements123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event

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MA Baby NEW DELHI: The opposition on Sunday accused PM Narendra Modi of shedding “crocodile tears” over women’s quota, as it stepped up its attack on him for delivering a “political speech in the garb of an address to the nation“. Highlighting that the PM “spewed venom” against the opposition for 29 minutes on Doordarshan, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, “How could the PM use this platform, funded by taxpayers’ money, to push forward his political agenda when the model code of conduct is in effect… How does EC not take suo motu cognisance of exploitation of govt machinery for pure political purpose?” CPM general secretary MA Baby, in a complaint to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleged “serious violation” of the model code of conduct. “The content, tone, and messaging of the address can by no stretch of imagination be termed govt communication. It was blatantly political, targeting the opposition parties… and seeking to influence public opinion, including voters of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal,” he said. CPI’s Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar P also wrote to CEC seeking an inquiry.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons7 factors driving property price growth in Indian metro cities123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event

MA Baby NEW DELHI: The opposition on Sunday accused PM Narendra Modi of shedding “crocodile tears” over women’s quota, as it stepped up its attack on him for delivering a “political speech in the garb of an address to the nation“. Highlighting that the PM “spewed venom” against the opposition for 29 minutes on Doordarshan, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, “How could the PM use this platform, funded by taxpayers’ money, to push forward his political agenda when the model code of conduct is in effect… How does EC not take suo motu cognisance of exploitation of govt machinery for pure political purpose?” CPM general secretary MA Baby, in a complaint to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleged “serious violation” of the model code of conduct. “The content, tone, and messaging of the address can by no stretch of imagination be termed govt communication. It was blatantly political, targeting the opposition parties… and seeking to influence public opinion, including voters of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal,” he said. CPI’s Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar P also wrote to CEC seeking an inquiry.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of HormuzIndia Expands Export Relief After Hormuz Tensions Adds Egypt & Jordan To Shield Trade RoutesCongress Holds Protest After PM Modi’s Address To The Nation On Women’s Reservation Bill SetbackIndia’s Naval Push In Indo-Pacific: IOS Sagar Departs Phuket After Successful Thailand Port CallManipur Streets Erupt As Security Forces Fire Tear Gas On Protesters | WatchManipur Horror: Retired Soldier Among Two Shot Dead In Ukhrul Highway AttackWhat We Know About Indian Ships Hit In Hormuz Strait By Iran Gunboats And Unknown Projectile123Photostories5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobeWhy you forget names instantly: It’s not your memory, it’s your attention, and here’s how to fix it5 Horror movies based on real-life events: ‘The Conjuring’, ‘The Exorcist,’ and moreTop 5 sneaker releases of 2026 you shouldn’t missBeautiful Indo-Arabic and Persian baby names quietly used in Indian familiesHe never drank alcohol, yet was diagnosed with severe fatty liver: What this says about modern diets and silent lifestyle risksHow to stop rice flour roti from cracking: 5 proven home tips to make soft and puffed rotiAs Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy, a look at Bollywood’s cutest pregnancy announcementsInside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s parenting style: How they’re raising grounded, disciplined teen sons7 factors driving property price growth in Indian metro cities123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event

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