August 30, 2026

PM Narendra Modi with Uzbekistan Shavkat President Mirziyoyev Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm and personal welcome from Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev after arriving in capital Tashkent on Saturday for a two-day state visit.From the airport, the two leaders travelled together by car to the presidential palace, marking the latest instance of PM Modi sharing a car ride with a world leader. They held a dinner meeting at the presidential palace.During the visit, the first leg of the prime minister’s two-nation tour, PM Modi will hold delegation-level talks with the Uzbek president to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.The discussions will cover cooperation in trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties, while also setting the agenda for future bilateral engagement.In his departure statement, PM Modi noted that the India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership had witnessed “significant advancement” in recent years.“I look forward to my discussions with President Mirziyoyev on further deepening our cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence, energy, and on advancing our shared visions of Viksit Bharat and Yangi Uzbekistan,” he wrote on X.The visit marks his fourth trip to Uzbekistan since taking office. He previously visited the country in 2015, 2016 and 2022.From Tashkent, PM Modi will travel to Bishkek at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which will mark 25 years of the organisation.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesPM Modi’s ‘car’ diplomacyPM Modi first “carpooled” with a world leader during his 2014 visit to the United States, when he shared a car ride with then-US President Barack Obama.However, since last year, car rides with world leaders have become a recurring feature of what has been described as the prime minister’s “informal diplomacy.”In September last year, during his visit to China for the SCO Summit, PM Modi travelled in the same car as Vladimir Putin, reciprocating the gesture months later when the Russian president visited New Delhi in December.Since then, he has shared car rides with world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
PM Narendra Modi with Uzbekistan Shavkat President Mirziyoyev Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm and personal welcome from Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev after arriving in capital Tashkent on Saturday for a two-day state visit.From the airport, the two leaders travelled together by car to the presidential palace, marking the latest instance of PM Modi sharing a car ride with a world leader. They held a dinner meeting at the presidential palace.During the visit, the first leg of the prime minister’s two-nation tour, PM Modi will hold delegation-level talks with the Uzbek president to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.The discussions will cover cooperation in trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties, while also setting the agenda for future bilateral engagement.In his departure statement, PM Modi noted that the India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership had witnessed “significant advancement” in recent years.“I look forward to my discussions with President Mirziyoyev on further deepening our cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence, energy, and on advancing our shared visions of Viksit Bharat and Yangi Uzbekistan,” he wrote on X.The visit marks his fourth trip to Uzbekistan since taking office. He previously visited the country in 2015, 2016 and 2022.From Tashkent, PM Modi will travel to Bishkek at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which will mark 25 years of the organisation.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesPM Modi’s ‘car’ diplomacyPM Modi first “carpooled” with a world leader during his 2014 visit to the United States, when he shared a car ride with then-US President Barack Obama.However, since last year, car rides with world leaders have become a recurring feature of what has been described as the prime minister’s “informal diplomacy.”In September last year, during his visit to China for the SCO Summit, PM Modi travelled in the same car as Vladimir Putin, reciprocating the gesture months later when the Russian president visited New Delhi in December.Since then, he has shared car rides with world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash


PM Modi received by Uzbek President Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, leaders share car ride
PM Narendra Modi with Uzbekistan Shavkat President Mirziyoyev

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm and personal welcome from Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev after arriving in capital Tashkent on Saturday for a two-day state visit.From the airport, the two leaders travelled together by car to the presidential palace, marking the latest instance of PM Modi sharing a car ride with a world leader. They held a dinner meeting at the presidential palace.During the visit, the first leg of the prime minister’s two-nation tour, PM Modi will hold delegation-level talks with the Uzbek president to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.The discussions will cover cooperation in trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties, while also setting the agenda for future bilateral engagement.In his departure statement, PM Modi noted that the India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership had witnessed “significant advancement” in recent years.“I look forward to my discussions with President Mirziyoyev on further deepening our cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence, energy, and on advancing our shared visions of Viksit Bharat and Yangi Uzbekistan,” he wrote on X.The visit marks his fourth trip to Uzbekistan since taking office. He previously visited the country in 2015, 2016 and 2022.From Tashkent, PM Modi will travel to Bishkek at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which will mark 25 years of the organisation.

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High-level review meet held over proposed ‘ARISE’ project for coastal projection and climate resilience in Odisha A high-level meeting on the proposed Adaptive Resilience Investment in Coastal Systems on Economics (ARISE) Project was held on Saturday at Lok Seva Bhawan to deliberate on a comprehensive and long-term strategy for protecting Odisha’s coastline, enhancing climate resilience and promoting sustainable economic development in coastal areas.Odisha Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari, who chaired the meeting, emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to coastal management that combines coastal protection, environmental conservation, livelihood security, biodiversity protection and economic sustainability. He stressed that the ARISE Project should contribute towards strengthening the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems against the growing impacts of climate change.A preliminary assessment of Odisha’s 573-km coastline has been undertaken jointly by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). Consultations have also been held with ADB and the Departments of Water Resources, Forest, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development & Revenue & Disaster Management on key issues relating to coastal erosion, sediment management, protection of coastal villages and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. Based on these consultations, ADB and OSDMA have prepared a preliminary report, which was discussed in detail during the meeting.It was informed that ADB (Asian Development Bank) has also been working with the State Governments of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on coastal protection initiatives. The first phase of the coastal protection project in Karnataka has already been completed. The Minister informed that after completion of the final assessment and report for Odisha, the ARISE Project would be taken up in a phased manner, with appropriate interventions to strengthen coastal protection across the State.The meeting discussed integrated measures to address coastal erosion along Odisha’s coastline. Emphasis was placed on scientific & technology-driven interventions to reduce erosion, protect vulnerable coastal stretches and strengthen long-term coastal resilience.The development of Odisha’s Blue Economy was also deliberated upon, with emphasis on harnessing the State’s vast marine resources and economic potential in a sustainable and responsible manner. The approach would seek to generate greater livelihood and economic opportunities for coastal communities while contributing to the State’s overall economic growth, a release said.The meeting also focused on promoting Climate-Resilient Coastal Tourism in view of the increasing impacts of climate change and natural hazards. Discussions centred on developing sustainable tourism models that balance economic opportunities with environmental conservation and strengthen the resilience of coastal tourism infrastructure and communities.Coastal Protection and Sediment Management were identified as key components of the proposed interventions. The meeting emphasised the need to understand the natural dynamics of Odisha’s coastline and adopt scientifically informed approaches for managing sediment movement and deposition. Strengthening natural coastal defence systems and undertaking suitable protective measures at vulnerable locations were also discussed.For effective implementation of the ARISE Project, special emphasis was laid on Institutional Strengthening, Capacity Building and Advanced Technological Systems. The meeting discussed strengthening the institutional capacity of departments and agencies involved in coastal management, enhancing the technical skills of officials and personnel, and promoting knowledge and experience sharing among stakeholders.The use of modern technology, real-time data and digital platforms for effective coastal management was also emphasised. An integrated technological monitoring system for tracking coastal erosion, improving hazard forecasting, supporting data-driven decision-making and strengthening preparedness and response mechanisms was identified as an important component of the long-term strategy, a release further said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe meeting emphasised that the ARISE Project should adopt a long-term, scientific, integrated and sustainable approach to enhance climate resilience along Odisha’s extensive coastline while simultaneously strengthening environmental protection, disaster resilience, coastal livelihoods and economic development.Special Relief Commissioner and Managing Director, OSDMA, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, senior officials of OSDMA and senior officials of the Asian Development Bank attended the meeting, a release added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAyush PandeyAyush Pandey is a journalist at The Times of India, covering breaking news, politics, defence, and major legal and policy developments across India and the world. His reporting focuses on elections, national security, and institutional affairs, tracking the decisions and conflicts that shape public life. He specialises in sharp explainers and in-depth feature stories that go beyond headlines to decode political shifts, defence strategy, geopolitical flashpoints, and changing public sentiment. His work combines speed, clarity, and depth for a fast-moving digital audience.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

High-level review meet held over proposed ‘ARISE’ project for coastal projection and climate resilience in Odisha A high-level meeting on the proposed Adaptive Resilience Investment in Coastal Systems on Economics (ARISE) Project was held on Saturday at Lok Seva Bhawan to deliberate on a comprehensive and long-term strategy for protecting Odisha’s coastline, enhancing climate resilience and promoting sustainable economic development in coastal areas.Odisha Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari, who chaired the meeting, emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to coastal management that combines coastal protection, environmental conservation, livelihood security, biodiversity protection and economic sustainability. He stressed that the ARISE Project should contribute towards strengthening the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems against the growing impacts of climate change.A preliminary assessment of Odisha’s 573-km coastline has been undertaken jointly by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). Consultations have also been held with ADB and the Departments of Water Resources, Forest, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development & Revenue & Disaster Management on key issues relating to coastal erosion, sediment management, protection of coastal villages and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. Based on these consultations, ADB and OSDMA have prepared a preliminary report, which was discussed in detail during the meeting.It was informed that ADB (Asian Development Bank) has also been working with the State Governments of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on coastal protection initiatives. The first phase of the coastal protection project in Karnataka has already been completed. The Minister informed that after completion of the final assessment and report for Odisha, the ARISE Project would be taken up in a phased manner, with appropriate interventions to strengthen coastal protection across the State.The meeting discussed integrated measures to address coastal erosion along Odisha’s coastline. Emphasis was placed on scientific & technology-driven interventions to reduce erosion, protect vulnerable coastal stretches and strengthen long-term coastal resilience.The development of Odisha’s Blue Economy was also deliberated upon, with emphasis on harnessing the State’s vast marine resources and economic potential in a sustainable and responsible manner. The approach would seek to generate greater livelihood and economic opportunities for coastal communities while contributing to the State’s overall economic growth, a release said.The meeting also focused on promoting Climate-Resilient Coastal Tourism in view of the increasing impacts of climate change and natural hazards. Discussions centred on developing sustainable tourism models that balance economic opportunities with environmental conservation and strengthen the resilience of coastal tourism infrastructure and communities.Coastal Protection and Sediment Management were identified as key components of the proposed interventions. The meeting emphasised the need to understand the natural dynamics of Odisha’s coastline and adopt scientifically informed approaches for managing sediment movement and deposition. Strengthening natural coastal defence systems and undertaking suitable protective measures at vulnerable locations were also discussed.For effective implementation of the ARISE Project, special emphasis was laid on Institutional Strengthening, Capacity Building and Advanced Technological Systems. The meeting discussed strengthening the institutional capacity of departments and agencies involved in coastal management, enhancing the technical skills of officials and personnel, and promoting knowledge and experience sharing among stakeholders.The use of modern technology, real-time data and digital platforms for effective coastal management was also emphasised. An integrated technological monitoring system for tracking coastal erosion, improving hazard forecasting, supporting data-driven decision-making and strengthening preparedness and response mechanisms was identified as an important component of the long-term strategy, a release further said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe meeting emphasised that the ARISE Project should adopt a long-term, scientific, integrated and sustainable approach to enhance climate resilience along Odisha’s extensive coastline while simultaneously strengthening environmental protection, disaster resilience, coastal livelihoods and economic development.Special Relief Commissioner and Managing Director, OSDMA, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, senior officials of OSDMA and senior officials of the Asian Development Bank attended the meeting, a release added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAyush PandeyAyush Pandey is a journalist at The Times of India, covering breaking news, politics, defence, and major legal and policy developments across India and the world. His reporting focuses on elections, national security, and institutional affairs, tracking the decisions and conflicts that shape public life. He specialises in sharp explainers and in-depth feature stories that go beyond headlines to decode political shifts, defence strategy, geopolitical flashpoints, and changing public sentiment. His work combines speed, clarity, and depth for a fast-moving digital audience.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

Vamsikrishna 0
New York: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat speaks at ‘One World, One Humanity’ faith leaders’ conference, in New York, USA. (PTI image) NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that a person cannot claim to be a Hindu while believing that there should be no Muslims in Bharat.Speaking at the ‘One World One Humanity’ event in New York on Saturday, Bhagwat said Hinduism requires belief in the dignity of every human being and acceptance of different paths to the same goal.”If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu. If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same goal and that every human has dignity. There is no difference between human beings,” he said.Bhagwat made the remarks while recalling a conversation with a group of Muslims who had asked him about Hindutva. He also emphasised the need for societal education and said India’s traditional thought was centred on the “unity of humanity”.The RSS chief said positive change had to begin within society rather than through politics, which he described as increasingly driven by self-interest.”This is the traditional thought of Bharat- unity of humanity. All our leaders, at any point in time, have emphasized that too. After independence, we got the constitution, which emphasizes this, but that is not happening. Because these things do not happen through politics. I’m sorry to say, but the fact is, politics has now become a game of self-interest. And you have rightly said, where there is me and I, there is no solution. We and ours are the solution. So our experience in Bharat is that we have to start with the society,” he said.Bhagwat called for sustained efforts to educate society and build an atmosphere of unity and selfless service.”If we do not keep educating the society, then the deflections creep in, and somehow it happened in the course of history. I cannot point the moment. After that, our society, our country, was a target of foreign invasions, and so many things were lost,” he added.Bhagwat also cited the RSS response to the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision in Haryana, in which two aircraft collided, killing passengers, most of whom were Muslims.”Two planes collided over Haryana, which is part of Bharat, over the place named Dadri. Both were from Arab countries. Most of the passengers were Muslims. After that collision, our Swayamsevaks reached there first, and they served. Served in treating the injured. All others were dead. Recovering their bodies, arrange for the funeral rites when their relatives come, helping them in identifying. We never thought at that time that these are Muslims,” he said.He said the RSS was able to undertake such work because it was not involved in electoral politics and did not seek publicity or anything in return.”The prominent working organisation was RSS. We could do this because we are not in politics. And we don’t go on making these things famous because we don’t want anything from this. No return. I do not only tell others not to come to gain something. We do it in Sangha. We only give. We don’t want anything… There are many perceptions created by wrong narratives. But when you come and see us from inside, all those will be disbelieving in the day,” he added.Bhagwat also argued that public opinion could influence political leaders in a democracy and called for local initiatives to promote unity.”I do not only tell others not to come to gain something. In Sangha, we only give. We don’t want anything. That is why in publicity matters, we are way behind… Politics today, especially in a democracy, depends on the public view. If there is public opinion, then no politician will dare to go against it. Therefore, I think after taking a common resolve today, we have to act in these societies, and we have to act first locally,” he said.”Whatever we decide to do today, we should start in our own country and create pockets of such selfless service, such an atmosphere of unity, and then this dialogue should continue. Through this dialogue, we should connect them, and then we should grow,” he added.Making a veiled reference to India’s age-old ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ philosophy, Bhagwat said religions may differ in their practices, but humanity remains one.”I am not a religious scholar, nor a religious authority like you, but I am working in a society which traditionally says that religions might be different, but humanity is one. Truth is one, and humanity is a product of that truth. So humanity is one. That truth is one truth, but it is described in many ways according to the describer. Because as human beings, we are prisoners of the software that has been created in our heads,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”There are many religions, and in today’s world, religions are largely defined by rituals. And to fit in a religious discipline, and to treat that path to divinity, this discipline of rituals is also necessary,” he added.Bhagwat arrived in New York earlier this week as part of a three-nation global outreach tour covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The tour has been organised at the invitation of overseas local organisations as part of the RSS’ centenary year celebrations.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAyush PandeyAyush Pandey is a journalist at The Times of India, covering breaking news, politics, defence, and major legal and policy developments across India and the world. His reporting focuses on elections, national security, and institutional affairs, tracking the decisions and conflicts that shape public life. He specialises in sharp explainers and in-depth feature stories that go beyond headlines to decode political shifts, defence strategy, geopolitical flashpoints, and changing public sentiment. His work combines speed, clarity, and depth for a fast-moving digital audience.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

New York: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat speaks at ‘One World, One Humanity’ faith leaders’ conference, in New York, USA. (PTI image) NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that a person cannot claim to be a Hindu while believing that there should be no Muslims in Bharat.Speaking at the ‘One World One Humanity’ event in New York on Saturday, Bhagwat said Hinduism requires belief in the dignity of every human being and acceptance of different paths to the same goal.”If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu. If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same goal and that every human has dignity. There is no difference between human beings,” he said.Bhagwat made the remarks while recalling a conversation with a group of Muslims who had asked him about Hindutva. He also emphasised the need for societal education and said India’s traditional thought was centred on the “unity of humanity”.The RSS chief said positive change had to begin within society rather than through politics, which he described as increasingly driven by self-interest.”This is the traditional thought of Bharat- unity of humanity. All our leaders, at any point in time, have emphasized that too. After independence, we got the constitution, which emphasizes this, but that is not happening. Because these things do not happen through politics. I’m sorry to say, but the fact is, politics has now become a game of self-interest. And you have rightly said, where there is me and I, there is no solution. We and ours are the solution. So our experience in Bharat is that we have to start with the society,” he said.Bhagwat called for sustained efforts to educate society and build an atmosphere of unity and selfless service.”If we do not keep educating the society, then the deflections creep in, and somehow it happened in the course of history. I cannot point the moment. After that, our society, our country, was a target of foreign invasions, and so many things were lost,” he added.Bhagwat also cited the RSS response to the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision in Haryana, in which two aircraft collided, killing passengers, most of whom were Muslims.”Two planes collided over Haryana, which is part of Bharat, over the place named Dadri. Both were from Arab countries. Most of the passengers were Muslims. After that collision, our Swayamsevaks reached there first, and they served. Served in treating the injured. All others were dead. Recovering their bodies, arrange for the funeral rites when their relatives come, helping them in identifying. We never thought at that time that these are Muslims,” he said.He said the RSS was able to undertake such work because it was not involved in electoral politics and did not seek publicity or anything in return.”The prominent working organisation was RSS. We could do this because we are not in politics. And we don’t go on making these things famous because we don’t want anything from this. No return. I do not only tell others not to come to gain something. We do it in Sangha. We only give. We don’t want anything… There are many perceptions created by wrong narratives. But when you come and see us from inside, all those will be disbelieving in the day,” he added.Bhagwat also argued that public opinion could influence political leaders in a democracy and called for local initiatives to promote unity.”I do not only tell others not to come to gain something. In Sangha, we only give. We don’t want anything. That is why in publicity matters, we are way behind… Politics today, especially in a democracy, depends on the public view. If there is public opinion, then no politician will dare to go against it. Therefore, I think after taking a common resolve today, we have to act in these societies, and we have to act first locally,” he said.”Whatever we decide to do today, we should start in our own country and create pockets of such selfless service, such an atmosphere of unity, and then this dialogue should continue. Through this dialogue, we should connect them, and then we should grow,” he added.Making a veiled reference to India’s age-old ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ philosophy, Bhagwat said religions may differ in their practices, but humanity remains one.”I am not a religious scholar, nor a religious authority like you, but I am working in a society which traditionally says that religions might be different, but humanity is one. Truth is one, and humanity is a product of that truth. So humanity is one. That truth is one truth, but it is described in many ways according to the describer. Because as human beings, we are prisoners of the software that has been created in our heads,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”There are many religions, and in today’s world, religions are largely defined by rituals. And to fit in a religious discipline, and to treat that path to divinity, this discipline of rituals is also necessary,” he added.Bhagwat arrived in New York earlier this week as part of a three-nation global outreach tour covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The tour has been organised at the invitation of overseas local organisations as part of the RSS’ centenary year celebrations.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAyush PandeyAyush Pandey is a journalist at The Times of India, covering breaking news, politics, defence, and major legal and policy developments across India and the world. His reporting focuses on elections, national security, and institutional affairs, tracking the decisions and conflicts that shape public life. He specialises in sharp explainers and in-depth feature stories that go beyond headlines to decode political shifts, defence strategy, geopolitical flashpoints, and changing public sentiment. His work combines speed, clarity, and depth for a fast-moving digital audience.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

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‘Unity in diversity in Bharat’s DNA: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, addressing around 5,000 members of Indian-American organisations at Madison Square Garden in New York, spoke about unity, pluralism, individual responsibility and the obligations of the Indian diaspora, while arguing that material success alone cannot define a fulfilling life.Bhagwat was speaking at the “Universal Oneness Celebration”, organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue. He framed his address around the idea of “oneness”, drawing parallels between the pluralism associated with the United States and what he described as Bharat’s “unity in diversity”.“When we say America, United States of America, one word is often discussed frequently. That is pluralism,” Bhagwat said. “And when we say Bharat, another word, another phrase is discussed: unity in diversity.”“For Bharat, this unity and diversity, both are in their DNA,” he said.Bhagwat said differences between people were a natural feature of life, but argued that these differences existed alongside an underlying sense of oneness.“So many styles of living. We appear different. We are different,” he said, pointing to differences in people’s everyday needs and circumstances.“But there is innate oneness. That is why we feel for each other,” he added.He described diversity as the “decoration of oneness”, presenting unity not as the absence of differences but as something that exists beneath them.Bhagwat also linked this idea to what he described as the responsibilities of individuals, societies and nations. Nations, he said, should not be seen merely as geographical entities but as having a larger purpose.“These nations are not merely geographical entities. In the design of this universe, nations have to carry out a duty,” he said, quoting Swami Vivekananda’s formulation that every nation has a message, a mission and a destiny.‘Be true to America’: RSS chief message to diasporaTurning to the Indian diaspora in the United States, Bhagwat said Indians living abroad had a primary responsibility towards the country where they lived and worked.“So we are Americans, and we should be true to America,” he said.He described this as a duty towards one’s “karma bhumi” — the land where a person lives and works.“The diaspora, Indian diaspora, they have a duty to their karma bhumi. They must fulfill that. They should be loyal to their karma bhumi,” Bhagwat said.At the same time, he said Indians abroad could maintain a connection with Bharat as their “janma bhumi”, or birthplace, and could contribute to the country if they wished to do so after fulfilling their responsibilities to their adopted home.“But it is not obligatory,” he said.Instead, he said, the connection with Bharat should be reflected in the values carried by the diaspora.“Your janma bhumi expects you to live the values it has imparted on you,” Bhagwat said.Bhagwat also questioned the idea that professional success should be measured primarily through earnings and material possessions.“How much we earn is not important. How much we distribute is important,” he said.He asked whether a career could be reduced to money and material happiness, while acknowledging that material aspirations had a legitimate place in Hindu philosophy.“You think of career? Is career only money? Is career only material happiness?” Bhagwat asked.He referred to the four Purusharthas, saying that Artha and Kama represented important material dimensions of life alongside spiritual pursuits.“It is not denied. In four Purusharthas, Artha and Kama are two important Purusharthas related to material life,” he said.Bhagwat also referred to the traditional four stages of life — Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa — arguing that people acquire different responsibilities as they move through life.“So you have to learn, you have to sustain life, and you have to give the advice, your experience to next generation,” he said.He argued that material abundance by itself could not guarantee fulfilment.“So the material happiness is transient, cannot satisfy,” Bhagwat said. “And if abundance of material happiness is there, it may fail also. And therefore there is no satisfaction.”Highlights responsibility towards othersBhagwat’s broader argument centred on the idea that human intelligence carried with it a responsibility towards others.Using the example of a hungry person watching someone eat, he said people instinctively recognise another person’s suffering and cannot simply ignore it.“A simple experiment you can do, or I can challenge you to do. When you are taking your lunch or dinner, let a hungry man stand before you, and let him stare at your full platter with hungry eyes,” he said.“You can try; you will not do. Because we are human beings.”He contrasted human beings’ ability to think and plan with the instinctive behaviour of animals, but said the ability to think also brought a responsibility to use that capacity correctly.“If you think in the right way, you go nearer to God. If you think in the wrong way, you go nearer to the animal kingdom,” he said.Bhagwat offer interpretation of DharmaBhagwat also offered a broader interpretation of “Dharma”, saying it should not be understood simply as religion or worship.“Dharma is not religion. It is not worship. It is beyond all this,” he said.He described Dharma as a sustaining principle that allows people and society to manage competing aspects of life and maintain balance.“It is the balance which sustains everything at once, simultaneously, and simultaneously everyone can progress,” Bhagwat said.He similarly argued that progress should not require either individuals or society to be suppressed.“Individual, society and environment, they have to proceed together, progress together,” he said, adding that different aspects of an individual’s own life — body, mind and intellect — also had to advance together.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesBhagwat concluded by returning to the idea of responsibility towards both one’s place of work and birthplace.He called on people to fulfil their duties towards their “karma bhumi” as well as their “janma bhumi”, saying such an approach could help a world struggling with multiple challenges.“To that destiny and fulfill our duties in our karma bhumi as well as our janma bhumi,” he said.“If we do that, that will be a boon for the world struggling with all these problems and stumbling at every step.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPrisha PatnaikPrisha Patnaik is a journalist with The Times of India, writing across geopolitics, international affairs, culture, history and internet culture. With over two years of experience in social media and digital content, she is interested in how news, politics and culture are shaped for digital audiences. She holds a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Goldsmiths, University of London.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

‘Unity in diversity in Bharat’s DNA: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, addressing around 5,000 members of Indian-American organisations at Madison Square Garden in New York, spoke about unity, pluralism, individual responsibility and the obligations of the Indian diaspora, while arguing that material success alone cannot define a fulfilling life.Bhagwat was speaking at the “Universal Oneness Celebration”, organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue. He framed his address around the idea of “oneness”, drawing parallels between the pluralism associated with the United States and what he described as Bharat’s “unity in diversity”.“When we say America, United States of America, one word is often discussed frequently. That is pluralism,” Bhagwat said. “And when we say Bharat, another word, another phrase is discussed: unity in diversity.”“For Bharat, this unity and diversity, both are in their DNA,” he said.Bhagwat said differences between people were a natural feature of life, but argued that these differences existed alongside an underlying sense of oneness.“So many styles of living. We appear different. We are different,” he said, pointing to differences in people’s everyday needs and circumstances.“But there is innate oneness. That is why we feel for each other,” he added.He described diversity as the “decoration of oneness”, presenting unity not as the absence of differences but as something that exists beneath them.Bhagwat also linked this idea to what he described as the responsibilities of individuals, societies and nations. Nations, he said, should not be seen merely as geographical entities but as having a larger purpose.“These nations are not merely geographical entities. In the design of this universe, nations have to carry out a duty,” he said, quoting Swami Vivekananda’s formulation that every nation has a message, a mission and a destiny.‘Be true to America’: RSS chief message to diasporaTurning to the Indian diaspora in the United States, Bhagwat said Indians living abroad had a primary responsibility towards the country where they lived and worked.“So we are Americans, and we should be true to America,” he said.He described this as a duty towards one’s “karma bhumi” — the land where a person lives and works.“The diaspora, Indian diaspora, they have a duty to their karma bhumi. They must fulfill that. They should be loyal to their karma bhumi,” Bhagwat said.At the same time, he said Indians abroad could maintain a connection with Bharat as their “janma bhumi”, or birthplace, and could contribute to the country if they wished to do so after fulfilling their responsibilities to their adopted home.“But it is not obligatory,” he said.Instead, he said, the connection with Bharat should be reflected in the values carried by the diaspora.“Your janma bhumi expects you to live the values it has imparted on you,” Bhagwat said.Bhagwat also questioned the idea that professional success should be measured primarily through earnings and material possessions.“How much we earn is not important. How much we distribute is important,” he said.He asked whether a career could be reduced to money and material happiness, while acknowledging that material aspirations had a legitimate place in Hindu philosophy.“You think of career? Is career only money? Is career only material happiness?” Bhagwat asked.He referred to the four Purusharthas, saying that Artha and Kama represented important material dimensions of life alongside spiritual pursuits.“It is not denied. In four Purusharthas, Artha and Kama are two important Purusharthas related to material life,” he said.Bhagwat also referred to the traditional four stages of life — Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa — arguing that people acquire different responsibilities as they move through life.“So you have to learn, you have to sustain life, and you have to give the advice, your experience to next generation,” he said.He argued that material abundance by itself could not guarantee fulfilment.“So the material happiness is transient, cannot satisfy,” Bhagwat said. “And if abundance of material happiness is there, it may fail also. And therefore there is no satisfaction.”Highlights responsibility towards othersBhagwat’s broader argument centred on the idea that human intelligence carried with it a responsibility towards others.Using the example of a hungry person watching someone eat, he said people instinctively recognise another person’s suffering and cannot simply ignore it.“A simple experiment you can do, or I can challenge you to do. When you are taking your lunch or dinner, let a hungry man stand before you, and let him stare at your full platter with hungry eyes,” he said.“You can try; you will not do. Because we are human beings.”He contrasted human beings’ ability to think and plan with the instinctive behaviour of animals, but said the ability to think also brought a responsibility to use that capacity correctly.“If you think in the right way, you go nearer to God. If you think in the wrong way, you go nearer to the animal kingdom,” he said.Bhagwat offer interpretation of DharmaBhagwat also offered a broader interpretation of “Dharma”, saying it should not be understood simply as religion or worship.“Dharma is not religion. It is not worship. It is beyond all this,” he said.He described Dharma as a sustaining principle that allows people and society to manage competing aspects of life and maintain balance.“It is the balance which sustains everything at once, simultaneously, and simultaneously everyone can progress,” Bhagwat said.He similarly argued that progress should not require either individuals or society to be suppressed.“Individual, society and environment, they have to proceed together, progress together,” he said, adding that different aspects of an individual’s own life — body, mind and intellect — also had to advance together.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesBhagwat concluded by returning to the idea of responsibility towards both one’s place of work and birthplace.He called on people to fulfil their duties towards their “karma bhumi” as well as their “janma bhumi”, saying such an approach could help a world struggling with multiple challenges.“To that destiny and fulfill our duties in our karma bhumi as well as our janma bhumi,” he said.“If we do that, that will be a boon for the world struggling with all these problems and stumbling at every step.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPrisha PatnaikPrisha Patnaik is a journalist with The Times of India, writing across geopolitics, international affairs, culture, history and internet culture. With over two years of experience in social media and digital content, she is interested in how news, politics and culture are shaped for digital audiences. She holds a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Goldsmiths, University of London.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

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Slippages on Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway point to design issue, not construction defect; stretches will need bottom-up rebuild. (AI-generated image) NEW DELHI: Slippages on sections of the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway within days of its inauguration point to a design issue, not a construction defect, a top govt official has said, adding that simple patchwork repairs will not solve the problem. “The affected stretches will have to be rebuilt bottom up. We need to ensure there is no laxity at the designing stage of projects. This is a major concern for us, especially since the expressway has been executed under Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM),” the official said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe Centre is awaiting the final report of an expert who conducted a detailed investigation into the slippages. “There was no deficiency in the thickness of the road or in the pavement layers beneath it,” the official added. In HAM projects, the private developer is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the project through the entire concession period, which, typically, is 15 years.A preliminary investigation by an IIT Kharagpur professor had identified the use of weak, highly plastic soil beneath parts of the expressway as one of the main reasons for the slippages. Plastic soil loses strength when wet and can get deformed under load. The preliminary report shows poor drainage as a contributing factor.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

Slippages on Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway point to design issue, not construction defect; stretches will need bottom-up rebuild. (AI-generated image) NEW DELHI: Slippages on sections of the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway within days of its inauguration point to a design issue, not a construction defect, a top govt official has said, adding that simple patchwork repairs will not solve the problem. “The affected stretches will have to be rebuilt bottom up. We need to ensure there is no laxity at the designing stage of projects. This is a major concern for us, especially since the expressway has been executed under Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM),” the official said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe Centre is awaiting the final report of an expert who conducted a detailed investigation into the slippages. “There was no deficiency in the thickness of the road or in the pavement layers beneath it,” the official added. In HAM projects, the private developer is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the project through the entire concession period, which, typically, is 15 years.A preliminary investigation by an IIT Kharagpur professor had identified the use of weak, highly plastic soil beneath parts of the expressway as one of the main reasons for the slippages. Plastic soil loses strength when wet and can get deformed under load. The preliminary report shows poor drainage as a contributing factor.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

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